A Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the Waimea District/Regional Park pursuant to the state EIS law, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 343, and state EIS rules, Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 200.
Comment period
open for Waimea park
A Draft Environmental Assessment has been prepared for the Waimea District/Regional Park pursuant to the state EIS law, Hawaii Revised Statutes, Chapter 343, and state EIS rules, Administrative Rules, Title 11, Chapter 200.
Waimea District/Regional Park will be a master-planned facility that will offer diversified recreational opportunities for indoor and outdoor sports. The Waimea District/Regional Park will be developed in two phases. In the first phase, approximately 24 acres will be developed as a district park. For the second phase, approximately 26 additional acres will expand the district park into a regional park.
The primary purpose for the park is to address a deficiency of athletic and recreational opportunities for Waimea residents and for other surrounding communities in the South Kohala District. The park will include fields for football, rugby, soccer, baseball and softball, as well as a covered play court for sports such as volleyball and basketball. The park will also provide a larger community gathering area to address existing and future demand.
Comments are due by Sept. 23 and may be sent to PBR Hawaii & Associates Inc., Attn: Tammy Kapali, 1001 Bishop St., ASB Tower, Suite 650, Honolulu, HI 96813, and the Hawaii County Department of Parks and Recreation, Attn: Clayton Honma, Director, Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi St., Suite 6, Hilo, HI 96720-4224.
The draft EA may be viewed at Hilo and Kailua-Kona public libraries, as well as Thelma Parker Memorial Public and School Library. Hard copies and CDs of the draft EA are available, on a first request basis, by contacting Kapali.
Hawaii Meth Project announces art contest
The Hawaii Meth Project’s 2013 “Break the Ice” art contest is a way for teens to be recognized for their artistic ability while learning about the harmful effects of methamphetamine.
Hawaii students ages 13 to 18 are eligible to enter the contest between Sunday and Oct. 20. Visit hawaiimethproject.org, which includes facts, image galleries and personal stories from users, which may be used as inspiration. Students may use these tools and their imagination to create works of art to influence how people view this harmful drug. Each piece of art must have a clear “Not Even Once” or other anti-meth theme.
Students may enter work in a traditional and digital art category or, new this year, a sticker design contest. Specific rules and guidelines for the contest, along with samples from last year’s competition, can be found at methproject.org/action/hawaii/break-the-ice.html. Cash prizes will be awarded to the top entries in two age divisions, as well as a People’s Choice Award.
Harrison offers meditation sessions
Gavin Harrison will lead two meditation events in September.
Sitting and walking meditation, which includes dialogue and inquiry, is slated from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Sunday at the Waimea Events Salon, 66-1664 Waiaka St., Waimea. The event is nondenominational and open to experienced and novice meditators. Those attending should bring a meditation cushion. For information, contact Matilda Tompson at 885-9206 or TompsonP001@hawaii.rr.com.
A nonstrenuous walk is slated from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Sept. 7 at Iole, the Historic Bond Homestead, 53-496 Iole Road, Kapaau. Refreshments follow. Those attending should wear appropriate gear, including hiking shoes, and take sunscreen, bottled water and a towel or cushion for rest stops. For more information, contact info@iolehawaii.com or call 889-5151.
Both events are free, though Harrison accepts donations to cover his living expenses and a $10 to $15 donation is recommended for the Iole hike.
Highway use tax
return due Tuesday
The Internal Revenue Service today reminded truckers and other owners of heavy highway vehicles that in most cases, their next federal highway use tax return is due on Tuesday.
This year’s due date, pushed back three days because the normal Aug. 31 deadline falls on a Saturday, generally applies to Form 2290 and the accompanying tax payment for the tax year that begins on July 1, 2013, and ends on June 30, 2014. Returns must be filed and tax payments made by Tuesday for vehicles first used on the road during July. For vehicles first used after July, the deadline is the last day of the month following the month of first use.
Though some taxpayers have the option of filing Form 2290 on paper, the IRS encourages all taxpayers to take advantage of the speed and convenience of filing this form electronically and paying any tax due electronically. Taxpayers reporting 25 or more vehicles must efile. A list of IRS-approved software providers can be found on irs.gov.
Because of facility maintenance taking place over Labor Day weekend, the IRS will be unable to accept or acknowledge receipt of any electronically filed returns from 4 p.m. HST Saturday to 11:30 p.m. HST Tuesday. Paper returns must be mailed and postmarked by midnight Tuesday. IRS offices will be closed Monday.
The highway use tax applies to highway motor vehicles with a taxable gross weight of 55,000 pounds or more. This generally includes trucks, truck tractors and buses. Ordinarily, vans, pickups and panel trucks are not taxable because they fall below the 55,000-pound threshold. The tax of up to $550 per vehicle is based on weight, and a variety of special rules apply, explained in the instructions to Form 2290.
More information on the impact of the facility maintenance and the federal highway use tax is available at IRS.gov/truckers.