April 2012 PDF
April 2012
Researchers Focus on the Birds, Bees, Flowers, Trees of Hawai`i’s Dry Forests
For years, Susan Cordell has been studying Hawai`i’s dry forests and looking for ways to break what she calls the “grass-fire cycle.” Broadly speaking, that is when grasses get the upper hand over native dry-forest vegetation through the double-whammy of … Continued
New Turtle BiOp Pleases Hawai`i Swordfishing Fleet
In the end, the longliners were worried for nothing. In fact, things may get a little easier for them. On January 30, the National Marine Fisheries Service issued its new biological opinion (BiOp) on the effects eliminating the effort limit … Continued
Abercrombie, Inouye Offices Accused Of Interfering with Hearing on Telescope
The long contested case hearing over the proposed $300 million Advanced Technology Solar Telescope (ATST) on Maui took an unusual twist last month, with the hearing officer alleging “inappropriate … pressure and activity by U.S. Senator Inouye’s and the Governor’s … Continued
NEW & NOTEWORTHY: Anchialine Nightlife, Koa Redux, Milestones
Anchialine Nightlife: The animals in Hawai`i’s anchialine ponds, to the extent they have been studied at all, have been studied mostly during daylight hours. But Troy Sakihara, a biologist with the Hawai`i Department of Land and Natural Resources’ Division of … Continued
Letter: ‘Intelligent Tinkering’ Author Responds to Review
I am grateful to Environment Hawai`i for running a lengthy review of Intelligent Tinkering: Bridging the Gap Between Science and Practice in its February issue, but was disheartened by Susan Cordell’s grossly distorted overview of my book’s content, arguments, and … Continued
Renewable Energy Projects Languish As Feed-in-Tariff Program Maxes Out
It started out with a whimper, but the state’s feed-in-tariff program has ramped up so fast that renewable energy projects totaling more than 100 megawatts are now sitting idle until room opens up for them. Under the program, renewable energy … Continued
BOARD TALK: Board Reduces Fish Farm Bond, Extends Its Deadline for Construction
The controversial open-ocean fish farm proposed by Hawai`i Oceanic Technology, Inc. (HOTI) has won a couple of concessions from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources recently, despite calls from opponents to abandon the project. On February 24, at … Continued
Kaua`i Utility Bursts Pipe Dream Of Independent Hydropower Firm
Linda Rosehill could not have been more emphatic: The Kaua`i Island Utility Cooperative (KIUC) is not interested in buying electricity from Pacific Light and Power (PLP), its partner, Palo Alto-based Orenco Hydropower, or its slated power purchaser, the Kekaha Agriculture … Continued