Aloha,

As 2008 draws to a close, we look forward to 2009 and celebrating the 25^th anniversary of the establishment of the Hawaii Island Economic Development Board (HIEDB).  Moving towards this important benchmark date, we all find ourselves facing challenging economic times and extend a sincere mahalo for your membership and the important role you play in supporting balanced economic growth and success for the residents of and visitors to, Hawai`i Island.

HIEDB is also undergoing challenges and responding to the times. There have been several changes in our governance and management that we wanted to bring to your attention.

Subsequent to our general membership meeting in October, Richard Ha informed the board that in order to devote more attention to his business he needed to resign as Chairman of HIEDB. The nominating committee met and after polling the board recommended me to chair the current year through 2009 and Roberta Chu to chair 2010. These two recommendations will be presented for formal approval at our January membership meeting.

At the same time, after successfully leading HIEDB since early 2005, we bid aloha and best wishes to Mark McGuffie who decided for personal reasons to relocate to Oahu. Mark’s departure prompted the board to form a transition committee tasked with finding a replacement Executive Director.

In December the board accepted the committee’s recommendation to hire Jacqui Hoover as our new Executive Director effective December 17^th. HIEDB hired Jacqui on a less than full time basis in part to reduce our administrative costs and become more efficient. Equally important, this arrangement also allows Jacqui to simultaneously continue in her capacity as President of Hawaii Leeward Planning Conference (HLPC).

Our goal is to meet these challenging times by focusing on specific economic initiatives.   We have been laying the groundwork to do so by revisiting and strengthening our core competencies, and our commitment to HIEDB’s mission to provide and promote private sector support and expertise for balanced growth in Hawai`i County in partnership with Federal, State, County and private resources.

In January 2009, the HIEDB Board and Staff will conduct a day-long strategic planning session to identify and consider advocacy, education, outreach, funding, collaborative and other opportunities for implementation towards achieving our objectives.  These strategies will be discussed and your insights sought at our HIEDB General Membership meeting later in the month.

Your membership and commitment to HIEDB are greatly appreciated.  We are honing our focus on ways to maximize resources and ensure a long term relationship that is mutually beneficial to HIEDB and our members.  Watch for enhanced and improved communications including a more interactive website that will include a members’ only section.  In the meantime, we wish you a very successful and Happy New Year.

Sincerely,

Bob Saunders

Interim Chairman

For Immediate Release

Ala Mauna - Saddle Road Dedication

Mile Post 19 - 28

Hilo, Hawaii - Members of the Saddle Road Task Force, a citizen advisory group, federal, state and county government officials, and island residents will gather on Thursday, December 11, 2008 to dedicate the next segment of Saddle Road.

U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye will deliver the keynote address with remarks by Federal Highway Administration, Rick Suarez, Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi and Walter Kunitake of the Saddle Road Task Force. This is phase two of the newly aligned Ala Mauna Saddle Road and now completes roughly 17 miles of the East - West connector for Hawaii Island.

“On Thursday we will be delighted to see the next phase of this important highway completed and is the results of many years of meaningful work on this project,” said Walter Kunitake, co-chair of the Saddle Road Task Force. We’d like to thank Senator Dan Inouye for his tireless efforts on behalf of the citizens of Hawaii County.”

Saddle Road Construction Project

Ala Mauna - Saddle Road, the most direct route between the east and west sides of the island, is the shortest route, yet carries one of the highest accident rates of any road of its classification in Hawai‘i. The Saddle Road improvement project will make the road safer and easier to use by eliminating narrow lanes, limited lines of sight, numerous roadside hazards such as bridge parapets, rough road edges, and limited drainage during rain storms and military vehicles frequently crossing the road as it passes through the Pohakuloa Training Area.

Ala Mauna Saddle Road History and Use

Ala Mauna, the traditional name for this early transportation route, served native uses of the Humu‘ula area of Hawai‘i island including bird catching and adze quarrying. They were replaced by sandalwood harvesting and hunting wild cattle, and ultimately by ranching and astronomy. Over time, travelers whose only choice was once ancient footpaths, shifted to horses and wagons, then to automobiles. Roadways were improved and travel time shortened.

In 1943, the original Saddle Road was built as a gravel roadway first constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and the US Army Corps of Engineers for access to the island’s interior in the event of a Japanese invasion during World War II. Then in 1949 the Saddle Road was completed as a paved road.

What began as a military access road has since become an important cross-island link between East and West Hawaii. Saddle Road also provides the only paved access to Mauna Kea Science Reserve International Observatory Complex, Pohakuloa Training Area Base, Mauna Kea State Park as well as access to public lands and forest areas for hunting, gathering and ranching.

Construction funding for the Saddle Road improvement project is being made available from several sources: U.S. Department of the Army, Defense Access Road Program and Ecosystem Management Program, U.S. Congress, and Hawaii Department of Transportation. Construction of the remainder of the Saddle Road project will be phased as funds become available.

For more information contact Skylark Rossetti at (808) 935-2180.

zero-waste-program-final1

The Hawaii Island Economic Development Board extends this invitation for you to attend the Zero Waste Conference to be held on September 11 - 13, 2008 at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows, Kalahuipua’a Hawai‘i.

This Conference offers an opportunity for Hawai‘i to explore future planning issues and opportunities to our islands waste stream and how adoption of renewable energy applications can impact our overall sustainability.

Zero Waste is a philosophy that aims to guide people in the redesign of their resource-use system with the aim of reducing waste to zero.

Our Special guest speakers of international acclaim include:

• Gunter Pauli - Founder and director Zero Emissions Research Institute and world renowned sustainability educator
• Gary Liss - Gary Liss & Associates Zero Waste Community Planner
• Richard Anthony - Richard Anthony & Associates - Draft Zero Waste Planner for Hawai’i Island
  
• Patrick Hayes - Oakland CA specializes in Construction and Demolition with reuse outcomes

We have asked experts in the energy field to join us on a panel to discuss “Renewable Energy”. We will assemble a panel to address “Sustaining our Island’s Environment” and a panel to draft the Zero Waste Plan to improve Hawaii’s future.

Please save this date and register by calling Madeline at (808) 935-2180. We look forward to seeing you, at the “Zero Waste” conference at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows in September.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - January 28, 2008 :

U.S. Department of Energy and State of Hawaii Sign Agreement to Increase Clean Energy Technologies in Hawaii.

For more information about the MOU click on this link: http://www.eere.energy.gov/pdfs/hawaii_mou.pdf