Hawaii Remains Safe for Residents and Visitors – and More Tsunami News

STATE REMAINS SAFE FOR RESIDENTS AND VISITORS, HAWAII GOVERNOR SAYS

Governor Neil Abercrombie today echoed comments made by President Barack Obama that no harmful levels of radiation are expected to reach Hawai’i.  Governor Abercrombie stated:

I want to reassure residents and visitors that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the highest authority on radiation in the nation, has indicated Japan’s nuclear emergency presents no danger to Hawai’i.  Our state and county monitoring systems have not detected any increase in radiation levels, and based on all available information, state and federal experts do not anticipate any risk of harmful radiation exposure to our islands.  We are open for business.  Hawai’i continues to be the world’s paradise.

Residents do not need to take protective measures at this time.  Our state Department of Health is working closely with state, county and federal agencies to monitor the situation on a minute-to-minute basis.  Ongoing updates and informational sessions are taking place with federal authorities.

In the meantime, we continue to send our aloha to the people of Japan.  As one island people to another, we stand with them in solidarity and in sympathy for the challenges they are facing.

For more information, please call 2-1-1 or visit www.hawaii.gov/health or https://emergency.cdc.gov/radiation/. (Submitted by the Governor’s office.)

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII ECONOMIC RESEARCH ORGANIZATION REPORT ON IMPACT OF EARTHQUAKE/TSUNAMI IN JAPAN RELEASED

The Macroeconomic Aftermath of the Earthquake / Tsunami in Japan?

The unfolding nuclear disaster in Japan makes any assessment of the near term outlook highly speculative. In coming weeks, as data on the extent of damage to Japan and Hawaii’s tourism industry is collected, UHERO will analyze the impact of the crisis on the near term outlook for Hawaii.

In this UHERO Brief, UH economist Ilan Noy asks what research based on previous natural disasters can tell us about the likely long-run macroeconomic impact on Japan.

See it here: https://uhero.prognoz.com/

UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII STUDENTS IN JAPAN BEING MONITORED

The University of Hawaiʻi has been in constant contact with its nearly three dozen college students currently in Japan, either through study abroad and exchange programs or graduate studies. Eight are from UH Hilo and 27 are from UH Mānoa. None of them is in the vicinity of the most seriously damaged areas; they are all in other parts of the country and, based on our most current information, indicate they are safe and not in any immediate danger.

In light of the updated advisory from the U.S. State Department “strongly urging” all Americans to “consider departing” Japan, the University of Hawaiʻi System is in the process of helping our students follow this recommendation from the State Department. We are in communication with them, and are actively assisting them in abiding by this Travel Warning from the U. S. State Department.

See the State Department’s website for more information on the Travel Warning. (Submitted by the University of Hawaii)

BIG ISLAND MAYOR SAYS THOSE WITH HOMES DAMAGED FROM TSUNAMI GET PROPERTY TAX RELIEF

Any taxpayer who experienced destruction or damage to their real property due to the recent tsunami that occurred on March 11, 2011, should file a claim for remission of real property taxes, it was announced by Mayor Billy Kenoi.

Although the deadline for filing this claim is June 30, 2011, taxpayers should file the claim as soon as possible, if they have not already done so.

According to County Finance Director Nancy Crawford, taxpayers should access the Real Property Tax website at https://www.hawaiipropertytax.com under the Forms and Instructions tab and Miscellaneous to obtain the appropriate form and information about the remission of taxes.

Taxpayers may also contact the appraisal section of the Real Property Tax Office at 75-5706 Kuakini Highway, Suite 112, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 or call 323-4881 to obtain forms and information.  Taxpayers may also contact the Hilo office at 961-8354.  Before filing the claim, taxpayers should be aware that this method of filing is the only way to recover a portion of the real property taxes paid on property for the current tax year (7/1/2010 to 6/30/2011).

Each parcel is subject to a minimum tax in the amount of $100 and any remission will not reduce the total tax below this amount.  Since the real property tax assessment does not include personal property such as furniture, carpets or draperies, no remission will be made for this type of loss or damage.

The County does not tax personal property, only the assessed valuation of land and buildings.   (Submitted by the Hawaii Island County administration)

TSUNAMI UPDATE: MOST BUSINESSES, RESORTS OPEN ON HAWAI’I, THE BIG ISLAND

Hawai’i Island – Last Friday, Hawai’i Island, especially the Kona District, sustained some damage from the tsunami generated by an earthquake near Japan, but nearly all hotels, businesses and attractions are open, tourism officials said.

On Fri., Mar. 11, a tsunami hit Hawai’i following a destructive 9.0 magnitude earthquake near the east coast of Honshu, Japan. Some hotels and businesses along the Kona and Kohala coasts were damaged by wave surge and debris, but most are open and are welcoming guests.

Two resorts that remain closed are Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, which plans to reopen on April 30, and Kona Village Resort. Phone lines at Kona Village are now working.

Kailua Pier was deemed structurally sound, and all charters that normally operate from the Pier, including Body Glove, Atlantis Submarines and Jack’s Diving Locker, are operating as usual. The Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Pride of America cruise ship will stop in Kona on Wed., Mar. 23 as planned.

King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is also open, and guest rooms were not damaged. However, the lu’au area, ground floor public areas including the lobby and Kona Beach Restaurant, were flooded by seawater, sand and debris. Cleanup efforts are well underway, and several retail stores have reopened. The swimming pool and Billfish Bar are open, and the cleanup team has removed all of the carpet from the lobby and replaced all of the furniture. The award-winning Island Breeze Lu’au will resume this Sun., Mar. 20.

While the sands at Kamakahonu Beach were mostly swept away, Kona Boys have pitched in to tidy up the coastal area fronting King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel. Kona Boys are continuing to offer outrigger canoe rides, stand-up paddlesurfing (SUP), kayaking and snorkeling on the calm waters of Kailua Bay from their beach hut at Kamakahonu.

Hulihe’e Palace in historic Kailua Village is temporarily closed, but two upcoming outdoor events on palace grounds are still happening as scheduled. This Sunday’s band concert is confirmed, as is the annual palace fundraiser, Day at Hulihe’e, on Sat., Mar. 26.

Fair Wind Big Island Ocean Guides have resumed charters aboard Hula Kai and Fair Wind II from Keauhou Bay, and Keauhou Pier was not damaged, although Fair Wind’s check-in facility will be undergoing repair. Check-ins are being handled at a modified location nearby. The company reports that the north part of Kealakekua Bay near the Captain Cook Monument where the Fair Wind II moors for its popular snorkeling trip, has excellent visibility.

The National Park Service reports that two West Hawai’i parks have partial closures due to tsunami damage. Pu’uhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park is open on a very limited basis from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.  The only areas that are open are the main paved parking lot, the visitors center, amphitheater, and a small portion of the Royal Grounds in front (makai) of the amphitheater. Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park is now open normally except for a small stretch of coastal trail at the southern portion of the park between ‘Ai’ōpio Fishtrap and ‘Aimakapā Fishpond.

At ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay in the Waikoloa Beach Resort, the tsunami surge cleaved the beach in half, and waves breached the lava rock walls at Kings’ Pond. The public beach access and parking lot at the south end are closed until further notice. The public can access the northern portion of the beach at the Kolea condominium community. Ocean Sports’ catamaran Sea Smoke resumed charters at ‘Anaeho’omalu today.

No damage has been reported at any of the island’s renowned golf courses.

There were no deaths or serious injuries reported in Hawai’i from Friday’s tsunami. All airports are open and flights are on time, and all roads are open.

“We are deeply touched by the outpouring of well wishes from visitors, both here and far away. And in typical Hawai’i Island style, our community, government officials and local agencies are working together efficiently and quickly to get the cleanup job done,” said George Applegate, Executive Director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau. “As we count our blessings, we also send our deepest aloha to Japan, and to everyone who suffered losses due to the earthquake and tsunami. For all of us in Hawai’i, Japan is so much more than economics. We are friends and family as we are related by our long historical ties and proud heritage” he said.

Comments

comments