TODAY IN SPORTS: Find out who we picked as our most recent Athlete of the Week honoree PAGE B1
‘Pushing forward’
LEE LOY LEY KIM
Index
Wednesday, October 3, 2018
Athlete of Week B1
Big Isle history B4
Classified B6
Comics B5
Issue No. 276
16 Pages in
2 Sections
Today’s
weather
Page A2
Commentary A4
Community A6
Crossword B4
Dear Abby B4
Horoscope B4
Nation A5
Obituaries A2
Sports B1
State A3
Stocks A2
Surf Report A2
World A5
By NANCY COOK LAUER
West Hawaii Today
“Managing expectations”
will be key to the success of
a public-private partnership
to create a lava viewing area
now that the lava flow in
lower Puna has subsided.
County administration on
Tuesday laid out its plans to
create a lava viewing platform
and a short trail just past
Lava Tree State Monument
near the “Y” where Highway
132 meets Pohoiki Road.
From there, people will be
able to see the vast expanse
of lava and fissure 8, which
is currently inactive.
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The project is still a few
months away, as one component
must go through the permitting
process and another out
for competitive bids. The cost
has not yet been
determined, but
officials asked
for funding in
the county’s
disaster relief
package to the
state Legislature.
Mayor Harry Kim sought
to open up viewing area
much sooner, while the
lava was active, but consultations
with the Hawaiian
Volcano Observatory and
others convinced the county
it was too dangerous.
“A few weeks into the event,
the mayor said we need to share
the majesties of this historic
geologic event,” said county
Research and
Development
Director Diane
Ley, adding the
hoped-for outcome
is a “managed
viewing site
that is respectful
of adjacent properties and
residences, respectful of our
environment … and provide(s)
opportunities to businesses
within and outside Pahoa.”
Kim: County will hold off on
clearing Hwy 137 near Pohoiki
By MICHAEL
BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
Despite discussion last
month about possibly
reopening Highway 137
in lower Puna, Mayor
Harry Kim said Tuesday
that lava cannot be
cleared from the highway
until more than six
months have passed since
Kilauea eruption’s pause.
Kim said the lava
flows over the highway
— which extend more
than 5 miles north of
Pohoiki Road and reach
more than 50 feet high
in some places — still
contain a well-insulated
core of dangerously hot
lava, despite being cooled
on the surface. Because
of this, clearing the lava
from the road cannot be
safely done
until more
time has
passed.
While
county
Managing
Director
Will Okabe said in
September that contractor
bids would be
made before the end of
that month, Kim said
See HWY 137 Page A8
Administration updates county council
members on plans for lava viewing platform
See VIEWING AREA Page A8
HOLLYN JOHNSON/Tribune-Herald
Glen Rothe, regional vice president of sales and marketing for Norwegian Cruise Line, poses for a selfie with travel
professionals and journalists Tuesday at ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center in Hilo during a Norwegian Cruise Line event
celebrating the culture and history of the Big Island.
NCL: The Big Island
is ‘open for business’
By MICHAEL
BRESTOVANSKY
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
In the hope of bringing
more tourists to the
Big Island, Norwegian
Cruise Line invited dozens
of travel professionals
and journalists to an event
celebrating the culture
and history of the island.
Ross
Birch,
director of
the Island
of Hawaii
Visitors
Bureau,
and NCL
president and CEO Andy
Stuart welcomed guests to
‘Imiloa Astronomy Center,
where island foods and
drinks were
served alongside
live
Hawaiian
music and
hula demonstrations.
The purpose
of the event, Stuart
said, was to “spread the
word” about the island’s
potential as a tourist
destination despite a shortfall
in visitor numbers
following the Kilauea
eruption in lower Puna,
which earlier this year
destroyed more than 700
homes and became an
international news story.
Stuart said NCL’s regular
interisland cruises on
BIRCH STUART
See BUSINESS Page A7
Teachers,
others show
support for
amendment
By STEPHANIE SALMONS
Hawaii Tribune-Herald
A number of teachers, along
with some students and parents,
lined sidewalks in front of
Hilo High and Hilo Intermediate
schools early Tuesday morning.
Educators throughout the state
hosted a “walkin”
to urge
support for a
constitutional
amendment that
aims to increase
funding for public
education. In
Hilo, about 20
people waved
signs as morning
commuters
made their down
Waianuenue
Avenue.
Some drivers
honked
their horns as
they passed.
Others waved.
“This is
about
fairness for
the people
and for the
kids, our
keiki.”
MATTHEW
YARBERRY,
a world history teacher
at Hilo High School
Matthew Yarberry, a world history
teacher at Hilo High, said he
considered Tuesday a dry run for
an official walk-in slated for Oct.
23 at the high school “when we’re
going to do this en masse.”
Yarberry said the group on
Tuesday was “trying to raise awareness
about voting in November on
the constitutional amendment.”
See SUPPORT Page A7
/www.hawaiitribune-herald.com