HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-11-20 Interagency Minutes
Interagency Task Force on VOG
Tuesday November 20, 2012
4:00 p.m.
Civil Defense Agency
920 Ululani St.
Hilo, Hawaii
Present: Benedict Fuata, Chair
Faye Hanohano, Representative of the Fourth Representative District
Gilbert Kahele, Representative of the Second Senatorial District
Merlyn Harris, Ka’u Hospital
James Wheler, Department of Land and Natural Resources
Not Present:
Loretta Fuddy – Department of Health
Doug Mayne, State Civil Defense
Aaron Ueno, Department of Health, District Health Office
George Applegate, Big Island Visitors Bureau
Salvador Panem, Department of Transportation Highway Division
Mary Correa, Department of Education Keaau-Pahoa
Fred Blas, Council District 5
Robert Herkes , Representative of the Fifth Representative District
Brittany Smart, Council District 6
Gerald Kosaki, Hawaii Fire Department
Robert Irvine, Hawaii Health System Corp
Jason Moniz, Department of Agriculture
Others Present:
Janet Babb, Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory
John Drummond, Hawaii County Civil Defense Agency
Duane Hosaka, Hawaii county civil Defense Agency
Benedict Fuata called the meeting to order at 16:02.
Approval of August 2, 2012 minutes.
Motion to accept moved by Faye Hanohano and seconded by Merilyn Harris. Motion to approve
minutes passed.
Reports: None. No new reports out on the vog.
Unfinished Business:
Follow up on Ron Ebert on monitors being down and not reported. We need to follow up with
Department of Health.
Robert Herkes’s resolution the legislature, to extend the life of the board. We would have to
wait until March or April for this go before legislature. The initiative of the task force was to receive
input from the public. Our biggest showing was in February 29, 2012, in Pahala. There was zero
testimony in Pahoa and in Hilo.
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We recommend Act HB 229 we that the information gathered and coordinate with Ms. Janet Babb from
the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) and prepare a FAQ and information lead from the county
website to Janet Babb’s website. And address concerns through HVO’s website and present the
information as a 1-stop shop with hyperlinks. We have learned we can do nothing more by advise the
public where to go.
We recommend if there could be a credit for children with asthma, who are exposed to the vog, a tax
credit for a room air conditioner. The cost may be more to upgrade and meet building standards,
increase electricity.
There is a higher level task force at the state level.
There was a motion to provide a roll-up to the members of the committee with a summary of
information and testimony gathered and provide a lesson learned and frequently asked questions with a
web link to the HVO website as a recommendation. I will give a summary sheet and develop a checklist
for other islands to get information.
Moved by Merilyn Harris and seconded by Faye Hanohano. Motion passed.
New Business: None
Announcements: None
Would you in agreement the next meeting will be a will be reply back to the group and to conduct a poll
by email we will submit a draft proposal to forward recommendation to the Governor’s office. You
email reply back agreeing with the submittal of the draft to the Governor’s office and requisition
termination of task force.
Motion to adjourn. Moved by Merilyn Harris and seconded by Faye Hanohano
Meeting adjourned at 4:30 p.m.
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