Click here to download PDF flyer
Green Collar Jobs Funding – Employer Workshop

An employer workshop to be held
Thursday, August 13th 9:00 am to 11:00 am registration: 8:30 am

Workforce Development Division Presentation Room

1990 Kino`ole Street, Suite 102
(Next to Kawate Seed Shop)

Green Collar Jobs and Greener Economies
Brent Norris, Green Collar Technologies

Green Job Employer
Michael Kaleikini, Puna Geothermal Venture

• John Carroll, Hawai`i Island Workforce & Economic Development Ohana

• Alex Frost, Hawai`i County Research & Development Department

• Susan Akiyama, Office of Housing & Community Development

In partnership with:

• Hawai`i Island Workforce & Economic Development Ohana

• Hawai`i County Workforce Investment Board

• Hawai`i Island Chamber of Commerce

• Japanese Chamber of Commerce & Industry of Hawai`I

• Kanoelehua Industrial Area Association

• Big Island Workplace Connection

Call Bunnie Au-Suehiro at 981.2860 ext. 236 for registration & payment information.

Workforce Development Division
1990 Kino`ole Street, Suite 102
(Next to Kawate Seed Shop)

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Stimulus money) Resources for Hawai`i Island
An effort to provide organized resources for Hawai’i Island businesses, non-profit organizations and government agencies seeking grants and funding initiatives from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

Green-Collar Job Resources for Hawai`i Island
An efffort to provide resources for employers, job seekers, green collar workers and various organizations interested in learning more about Green Collar Jobs on Hawai’i Island.

The total cost of all the projects submitted by Hawaii County is $501,100,000

To Vote on these projects or leave a comment, visit this page:

http://www.stimuluswatch.org

Also check out this map at Hawaii.gov

Description and Cost

Hawaiian Paradise Park Subdivision District Park, development of 20-acre park site in rapidly growing subdivision with severely underserved recreational needs in an economically disadvantaged area $10000000

West Hawaii Maintenance Facility, replace existing building in Kealakekua with shops and offices for Public Works’ traffic building and automotive divisions $3500000

South Hilo Highway Baseyard Storage to replace equipment storage warehouse that had to be demolished after the roof was damaged in high winds. $1000000

Puna Gymnasium and ball fields, development of indoor recreational spaces and outdoor fields for economically disadvantaged community with severely underserved recreational needs $15000000

Hamakua Highway Maintenance Base Yard to replace existing metal quonset hut that no longer meets safety codes; needs major repairs; and is not on county property. Replacement would be built on county land and centralize operations $5000000

Highway Division Office Extension, additional Hilo office space required for additional personnel to manage roadway responsibilities $1000000

Upgrade land-mobile radio public safety communications system and migrate system to 700-800MHz range to comply with FCC mandate. Improves public safety and emergency response by adding radio coverage to areas of the island that are now without coverage. $89000000

South Kohala Baseyard Storage to replace inadequate existing facility and secure equipment and supplies. $1000000

Hina Lani Resurfacing; resurface 5 miles of highly deteriorated urban street $6000000

Traffic signal upgrades from Traconex control cabinets to 170s, 10 signal locations to provide additional controller capabilities for signal coordination and standby power during power interruptions $1000000

Island-wide accessibility improvements and removal of architectural barriers for Parks to meet ADA requirements $10000000

Haao Springs drainage channel repair and improvements include repairing damaged concrete lining and enforcing the channel slopes, providing concrete lining between culvert and existing concrete lining and providing concrete wing walls at culvert inlet $4000000

Public Works Facilities ADA compliance, island-wide facilities in ADA compliance B Priority and C Priority in accordance with county self-evaluation and transition plan for accessibility to public facilities $4000000

Palani Road/Kamakaeaha Avenue Intersection Improvements including addition of left turning lane to increase intersection capacity and reduce congestion $5000000

Replacement of Puna Highway Maintenance Warehouse, which is currently inadequate and no longer used. Needed to secure storage of equipment and supplies. Additional space needed to address additional roadway responsibilities. $1000000

ADA Curb Ramp Compliance Program, Waimea. Replace sidewalks and install curb ramps to comply with FHWA settlement agreement $1000000

Kawailani/Pohakulani/Ainaola/Iwalani Traffic signal improvements to install synchronized signals, acquire property for highway realignment and make drainage improvements to improve vehicle and pedestrian safety $2500000

Mamalahoa Widening from North Hawaii Community Hospital to MP56 to increase traffic capacity through the Kamamalu Intersection and reduce congestion $10000000

Kaiminani Drive resurfacing; resurface 6 miles of highly deteriorated highway and construct 10 new drywells $6000000

Construct a new police station in Captain Cook for current and future public safety needs in South Kona, including a firing range for police department training. Property has been acquired next to an existing police substation. $18000000

Mass transit base yard construction to include administrative building to serve the public and house staff, maintenance facility for vehicle repairs, bus wash bay and refueling station $10000000

Kalanianaole Avenue Sewer Rehabilitation, Phase 2, repairs and upgrade of interceptor that serves much of the Hilo area. Failure of the interceptor would cause of spill of about 2.5 MG per day $8000000

Palani Road transmission waterline; construct two concrete reservoirs and 12,500 feet of waterline south of Palani Road to the Liliuokalani subdivision. $14000000

Install 16-inch water main in conjunction with state widening project of the Queen Kaahumanu Highway; includes installation of 25,000 linear feet of line from Kealakehe Parkway to Keahole Reservoir. $3750000

Backflow Prevention Compliance to install water system backflow prevention assemblies on 67 county Public Works facilities to comply with Department of Water Supply rules $1000000

Construct Kaloko Housing Project to develop 24 transitional units for the homeless and 72 affordable rentals on a county-owned parcel; needed to prepare for the impending closure of the only homeless shelter in West Hawaii $18000000

Hokulia Bypass traffic calming measures, four new signals and markings, all mitigation needed due to partial opening of new bypass road $2050000

Papaikou and Kulaimano Dewatering, installation of identical and updated sludge dewatering systems at wastewater treatment plants $1600000

Komohana Heights Large Capacity Cesspool replacement; connection to sewer syatem will reduce bacterial levels within Hilo Bay and other parts of the East Hawaii shoreline $4000000

Memorial Hospital large capacity cesspool replacement, including installation of pump and connection to municipal sewer $1000000

Construct Kamanu Street Extension to connect Hina Lani Street to Kealakehe Parkway to reduce traffic congestion in West Hawaii $15000000

Honokaa Large Capacity Cesspool replacement; per EPA mandate, replace cesspool system serving numerous public facilities including Honokaa Public School complex, state library, Health Department, Judiciary and elderly housing $17500000

DPW Facilities Energy Systems will build solar energy systems, high-efficiency equipment replacements and other building energy efficiency improvements. $4000000

Information technology disaster mitigation to move mission-critical network and information infrastructure to non-hazardous zones. Will ensure voice and data capabilities in times of crisis. $1200000

Lindsey Road Bridge replacement to increase carrying capacity of bridge in Waimea to meet current standards $9000000

Backflow Prevention Compliance, county Parks, to comply with state and county requirements for safety of public drinking water $2000000

Waimea Water System improvements; install 5,900 feet of 12-inch water line from Spencer Road to Opelo Road to provide transmission capacity in an area that regularly experiences low-pressure conditions. $1100000

Construct the 1,400-foot Laaloa Avenue extension from Kuakini Highway to create a new mountain-to-ocean connector road and add a new signalized intersection to improve traffic circulation in the area. $17000000

Construct Alii Parkway, a 4.5-mile two-lane highway to reduce vehicular congestion on Alii Drive, Kuakini Highway and portions of Queen Kaahumanu Highway $15000000

Pua Sewage Pump Station replacement of aging wastewater pumps, control and monitoring systems. Failure of the station could result in a sewage spill of 3 million gallons per day. $1800000

North Kona Sewer and Reuse, installation of resuse infrastructure at the Queen Kaahumanu Highway in conjunction with the state highway widening project. Will serve planned development in the area and conserve limited potable water supplies. $20050000

Kealakehe Wastewater Treatment Plant sludge removal, clearing lagoon treatment system is needed to restore plant to original design capacity of 5.1 MGD and to accommodate increased waste from local septic tanks $4000000

Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Hurricane Shelter and Community Center, provide hardened shelter and community center facilities to an economically disadvantaged area with about 5,000 residents that is more than 30 miles from the nearest state-approved shelte $6000000

Repair of the unlined Keopu Channel damaged in the 2007 earthquake and flood. TIMETABLE: Approx. 3,500 man day during a nine-month period. $5000000

Naalehu and Pahala Large Capacity Cesspool Replacement , replace wastewater system serving Kau public schools, business districts and residences. $26350000

Kealakehe Wastewater Aeration upgrade to allow plant to accommodate sewage from local septic tanks; EPA has required septic tanks to replace cesspools, adding to the waste delivered to the plant $6000000

Construct Makalei Fire Station to improve response times to communities currently served by personnel and vehicles seven miles away, reducing fire insurance costs. $9000000

Install Kealakehe Wastewater Plant Photovoltaic System to reduce electrical costs and reduce reliance on imported oil $7000000

Replace existing street lights with energy efficient lights on existing poles island-wide. Island of Hawaii has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. $1000000

Energy retrofits for county-owned multi-family elderly housing projects at Ouli Ekahi in Kawaihae and Kulaimano Elderly Housing in Pepeekeo; Island of Hawaii has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. $900000

Vehicle enhancement project, purchase of 30-45 passenger buses and 25-30 passenger buses to expand transportation services, providing easier access for the public to health care, educational institutions, youth activities and work sites $17000000

Puna Makai Alternate Road EIS for a high-priority new road necessary to meet the transportation needs of a region expected to double in population to 70,000 by 2030 $2000000

Construct two-lane Ane Keohokalole (Mid-Level) highway linking Palani Road and Kealakehe, relieving congestion on surrounding roadways and opening 300 acres of state land up for development of affordable housing. $15000000

Queen Liliuokalani Large Capacity Cesspool replacement, closing cesspool and connecting to Kealakehe Wastewater treatment plant to comply with EPA mandate, closure deadline 6/1/10 $18500000

Bus Stop and Shelter project to construct 50 covered bus shelters to protect bus riders from the elements and encourage public transit use $1200000

Provide low-interest loans to homeowners to retrofit to increase energy efficiency; Island of Hawaii has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation. $1000000

Construct police station in economically disadvantaged Pahoa village next to new fire station to centralize public safety services in an area visible and accessible to the public. $4600000

Installation of solar energy systems in homes for very low income elderly and disabled homeowners; Island of Hawaii has some of the highest electricity rates in the nation $500000

Saddle Road resurfacing and reconstruction of 13 miles of highly deteriorated road from MP 43 to MP 56 $15000000

This position rewards independent contractors with freedom, flexibility and good pay. In this position you will be responsible for day to day content creation, monitoring and reporting of success metrics. Accepted contractors are required to work independently and are rewarded for taking initiative and “making it happen” with minimal interaction from supervisors.

Self-starters capable of quickly assessing and acting on project requirements will be rewarded for their relentless pursuit of quality and success for our clients. This position requires no face-to-face or over the phone sales but web writing and marketing skills are a must. This position requires contractors to execute goals inline with strict ethics in both intent and delivery.

Using online tools from companies like Google, Yahoo!, Adobe and Twitter, you will position products, services and entire teams as “thought leaders” in blogs, social networks and other competitive marketing environments.

Accepted contractors will apply their online promotional skills to meet strict deadlines. An almost innate understanding of the web will provide a basis for contractors to quickly excel in competitive and fast-paced online environments. This job requires that you eventually become a total expert at online promotions. Your pay will be a direct reflection your successes in this position.

Requirements:

• High-speed internet access
• Ability to work remotely (there is no office)
• Ability to meet in Hilo for occasional face-to-face meetings
• Ability to work part-time as an independent contractor

Interviews will be held in Hilo April 2nd – April 10th

Must be available to start on May 4th.

Internships are available to help folks with pre-existing computer skills prepare for this position.
Details on the Intern page.

The evening was one of the best educational opportunities of the year. From food, water safety, energy and health to invasive species, green business, alternative building, public advocacy and civil defense this evening provided folks with what we needed to know about our island’s sustainability projects and practices.

2010 Sustainability Forum Presentations (Last Year)

Video shorts played between presentations.

DJ Red-One from Moemoea will provide the music.

Mati from Moemoea will provide sound engineering.

Renrick Tulloch, local energy physicist will direct multimedia audio and video.

Mahalo a nui loa to 2010 sponsors!

Title Sponsor - Fleming & Associates – Architecture & Planning Firm – Innovative design solutions from concept to reality.
Venue Sponsors
ARA Wealth Management Group, LPL Financial – to teach and inform our clients of the planning tools and vehicles available to them to better manage their business and personal financial goals.
Natural Investments LLC – committed to helping motivated investors create portfolios that reflect their own social priorities and concerns, generating healthy returns while cultivating opportunities to make a difference.
Green Power Girl and the Green Power Heros – were sent by Mother Nature to empower the humans with the incredible potential of nature’s abundant energy.
The Conference Center at the University of Hawaii at Hilo – The Conference Center provides comprehensive planning and coordination services for conferences, meetings, seminars and special events.
Chic Eco – Consultant, broker and sales for earth-friendly resources. Services benefit environmentally designed home, body and garden buyers with green business owner tools.
Martin Berger Attorney at Law – “Being a lawyer means dedication and commitment to only one person – you. That means I work hard, return all phone calls and take the time to explain everything in plain English.” -Martin A. Berger
LeiManu Designs - Incredible selection of custom crafted indoor and outdoor lighting.  Gas and Propane Torches Electrical Light Fixtures Installations Murals New Products Other Art
Netcom Enterprises - Technology Connects our World. Get Connected with Netcom Enterprises.

The Hawai`i Island Sustainability Forum is your chance to update the public on the current and future sustainability of our island home.

Hele Mai! Come share what you know.
Share your latest updates on current, island-thinking and sustainability efforts.

Last Day to Submit Applications – February 20th.

On March 20th, we’ll gather a few hundred island residents at the Palace Theater in Hilo, Hawai`i. If you’ve got some facts to share, this is your chance. 

Click here for more details and to apply.

The presentation format is divided into two parts.

1. Each presenter will be given exactly ten minutes to give their perspective in their area of expertise at the podium. Multimedia presentations are encouraged. We can help you prepare. If you’ve got specific knowledge in a key area of sustainability for the island, we need to hear from you. 
2. After the last presentation, presenters will sit on stage for a moderated discussion. A moderator will share questions from the audience with the presenters for one hour.

• All presentation applications submitted before February 20th will be considered.
• Applicants must provide completed multimedia or slide presentation by March 2nd. 
• All applications will be reviewed and acceptance notes sent by March 9th. 

A short video will play before and after each presentation. Videos are also okay in your presentations. No sales pitches, looking for facts, come talk story with neighbors.

Consider the following topics of interest to attendees:

• Hawaiian Cultural Practices
• Renewable Energy / fuels
• Green Economy
• Egovernance
• Community Planning
• Food Security and Farming
• Water Supply and safety
• Health and Holistic Practice
• Education / Green Jobs Training
• Natural Shelter / Green Building

The evening will be filled with culture, music, public participation and with your help, a strong educational component.

The official event flyer is below, right.

Click here for more details and to apply.

2009 will be on of the most challenging times in history. 

We have immediate fiscal problems. Difficult decisions must be made. High degree of uncertainty.

Future needs…

• Energy independence
• Food self-sufficiency
• Future and current infrastructure upgrades
• Health care

Cannot hunker down. Must focus on immediate opportunity. Will take patience and courage. Duty to live within our means and position for a bright future.

Review of some solid progress…

• Home ownership
• 9 new emergency shelters and homes
• Nearly 2800 people have received shelter, outpouring of community support. This was done in 2.5 years. Thanks to everyone.
• Successes of Dept of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). Donated more land than any other time. 
  • DHHL has chosen to lead. 
  • Showing how to develop community, work on energy independence and build great communities.
• Helping those in need
  • Hawai`i’s keiki
  • Child welfare systems
    • 50% decline of number in care- lowest number since 1993
    • Child re-abuse rate drops by half
  • DHS now uses comprehensive system for determining intervention

Deep hole in the budget…

• Council on general fund revenue projection reduced by 1.4 billion
• Tourism, construction and consumer demand all down
• Refrain from playing the blame game, wasn’t caused by us
• We’ve been doing great things
• We’re all in this together

Need courage, compassion and collaboration to cope with budget gap. May not see all issues the same but we need to acknowledge the predicament and move ourselves forward.

No possible way to continue spending like we have. We must be open and honest about what we’re facing.

We can’t afford business as usual.

• Gov employees must deal with reductions
• Tax credits will be reduced or eliminated
• Shared sacrifice, everyone must give up something

We are not alone. Families and businesses across the county and throughout the state are coming to terms with the same situation.

We will all recover…

• The speed will depend on this session.
• Must prepare the way for our future. 
• Short term solutions are just as bad as no solutions.
• Must end our dependence on foreign oil
  • We remain most oil dependent state
  • Windmills are working
  • geothermal is working
  • solar is working
  • electric cars on Oahu

Hawai`i clean energy initiative (HCEI requires 70% clean energy by 2030)

• Ban any new fossil power plants in Hawai`i
• New proposals will form the basis for Hawai`i’s clean energy transformation
• Requires large measure of collaboration

A clean energy future is an absolute necessity for our longterm economic survival.

• Future generations have a right to expect energy security 
• Right to expect higher paying green collar jobs
• Right to expect us to stop buying foreign oil

We import 85% of everything we consume.

• We need to act now for food security as required by our state constitution
• We must increase efforts to protect best ag lands from development
• Provide affordable water for agriculture
• Increase our food self sufficiency
  • This will create 2300 new jobs.
  • Schools, hospitals, government should buy local
  • 15% price help for farmers selling local

Need to diversify our economy

• Advanced communication infrastructure backbone
  • Essential to create high paying jobs we strive for
  • Today barely meets current needs
  • Must lay the ground work now
  • Allows us to achieve educational benefits, health care diagnostic research and treatment, increase civic participation, build creative media, e government initiatives and a foundation for overall economic development
• Broadband task force -voice data network to the homes
  • Task force consolidates advocacy and regulation
  • New Hawaii communications commission
    • Funded from existing fees
    • Creating more affordable broadband access
    • Helps streamline processes
  • Achieve prices and speeds that make us a world leader by 2012
    • Empower residents with advanced communications
    • Broadband taskforce has done this over the last 2 years

Traffic is still a problem…

• 6 year multi island highway modernization plan
• Save lives, time and money
• Road buildings, bridge, maintenance
• Increased public outreach and communication
• Stimulus funding and increases in highway related taxes and fees based on new job growth

Recreational Renaissance

• Parks harbors and trails
• 240 mil over 5 years in capital improvements
• Funded by 
  • Rents from commercial properties
  • Development of new light industrial lands
  • Additional funding from leases in concessions in parks, harbors and small entry fees
  • Development of new land and ocean recreation opportunities - public / private efforts
  • On Oahu, 119 acres light industrial, new marina slips, boat ramps, storage dry docks

Special thanks to Budget and Finance, DBEDT, DLNR

Not business as usual at DLNR.

Ceded Lands Issue

• Case pending before us supreme court ceded lands
• Not about whether lands should be sold or not… 
• Fundamental question is whether state has clear title to the lands. 
• Roots date back to 1980s to sell certain ceded lands for affordable housing 
• Acting in the best interest of all people.

Come together and respect the nature of this case and what it means to our state.

• 50th anniversary as a state
• Time to remind ourselves that we should remain firmly anchored to our rich cultural history and diversity.
• Barack Obama from Hawaii -says change good. 
• So much to be proud of and so much to look forward to. 
• Most unique among all fifty states.

“The completed agreement brings millions of rural Americans closer to having access to broadband and other cutting-edge communications technologies,” Schafer said. “This kind of high-speed internet connectivity will lead to increased investment and business opportunities in rural communities.”

The loan closing executes an agreement USDA Rural Development announced on March 25, 2008, when it approved a $267 million loan to Open Range. In addition to the USDA Rural Development loan, Open Range has secured $100 million in financing from One Equity Partners, the private equity arm of JPMorgan Chase & Co.

Open Range, headquartered near Denver, Colo., plans to use Wi-Max technology to offer affordable, wireless broadband service. In addition, the company will offer satellite services enabling rural residents to connect to the internet almost anywhere in the country. Open Range will provide services to rural communities in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Wisconsin.

USDA Rural Development’s mission is to increase economic opportunity and improve the quality of life for rural residents. Rural Development has invested nearly $111 billion since 2001 for equity and technical assistance to finance and foster growth in homeownership, business development, and critical community and technology infrastructure. More than 2 million jobs have been created or saved through these investments.

Further information on rural programs is available at a local USDA Rural Development office or by visiting USDA’s web site at http://www.rurdev.usda.gov.

Knowing these issues can help us all identity opportunities and threats to strengthening Hawai`i’s digital economies. These issues are important to anyone wishing to support a strong digital economy in Hawai`i.

I’ve shortened the Wired article into the following scorecard (link to full post at bottom): 

Broadband Grade:  
McCain: D
Obama: B 

H1B Visas Grade:
McCain: B+
Obama: C

Green Tech Grade:
McCain: B
Obama: A

Net Nuetrality Grade:
McCain: D
Obama: A

Spectrum Grade:
McCain: B
Obama: B

Read the full post at Wired.com:

Obama vs. McCain: The Wired Scorecard

Brent.fm post on TV Whitespaces includes video from Google.

Local comments below, national comments at Wired please.