January 30,2017
Solving a Big Problem With a ‘Tiny’ Solution: Evans Touts Benefits of Micro Housing
By IVY ASHE Hawaii Tribune-Herald
HAWI — The future of affordable housing on Hawaii Island could be tiny.
Legislation introduced this session by Rep. Cindy Evans (D- North Kohala, South Kohala, Kona) would allow for so-called “tiny homes” — houses that are less than 500 square feet — to be built on agricultural-zoned land for farm workers. House Bill 2 is specific to Hawaii Island.
A second bill, House Bill 1373, would authorize counties to provide zoning exemptions for tiny houses.
On Saturday, Evans, as well as Hawaii County Councilman Tim Richards and representatives from Hawaii County Councilwoman Jen Ruggles’ office, attended a community meeting hosted by One Island, a South Kona-based sustainability and education organization, to discuss the legislation and how to support local tiny homes.
Held at the Algood Farm in Hawi, the meeting drew about 40 attendees from around the island, with Puna, Hilo, Honokaa and Waimea represented.
Tiny houses have become more common across the country over the past decade; in 2015, more than 60,000 people attended the National Tiny House Jamboree in Colorado.
In some cases, the houses are the choice of minimalists seeking to downsize, or environmentalists seeking a lower carbon footprint. In other cases, people build their own tiny homes to avoid having a costly mortgage.
One Island became interested in tiny houses as a potential answer to a problem many farmers in Hawaii are familiar with: finding affordable housing for employees. The organization has a 10-acre farm in Honaunau; one of its goals is finding solutions to Hawaii’s ongoing food security challenges.
“If we’re going to be truly self-reliant … we have to have people that are going to grow that food,” Richards said. “If we focus in on that — in order to have people who are going to work the land we have to have the housing for people.”
Richards said he also saw tiny housing as a way to address Hawaii Island’s existing homeless population as well as people vulnerable to homelessness because they cannot afford rising rent.
“It started with farming, but it has so many other applications,” said One Island co-founder Marcy Montgomery.
Evans has introduced similar measures before, which she said tend to raise concerns from those in the hotel and time-share community about whether the housing would be used for vacation rentals.
“They play by the rules, and they’re concerned when people don’t play by the rules,” Evans said.
“We get caught up in that discussion, and we forget the real discussion, which is (that) farmers want to live where they work.”
“Sometimes a farmer is leasing a lot, and they’re not allowed to live on it,” Montgomery said. “Sometimes they have enough acres that they would like to (support) young farmers, but can’t (because of zoning).”
Saturday’s session was intended as a starting point for raising awareness of the new legislation.
“I think a lot of my colleagues haven’t heard of this yet,” Evans said. “Part of our job now is to educate other legislators who really don’t understand the tiny house movement that is here — and it’s a really good movement — and how clever and creative it is.”
Barrie Rose and Johanna Tilbury of Habitats Hawaii, which designs and builds mobile tiny homes on the Big Island, gave an overview of some of the housing they have worked on over the past several years.
The homes cost between $55,000 and $80,000 and are solar-equipped with full electricity and plumbing.
“I’ve been a builder for 30-something years,” Tilbury said. “I got tired of the permit process … it used to take six months, and now it’s three months.”
“We build these little houses on wheels,” she continued. “They’re registered with the DMV (Department of Motor Vehicles).”
The homes, which Tilbury and Rose presented on a slideshow, were individually designed and featured everything from lofted space to skylights to small breakfast nooks. One home, originally built in Waimea, has since moved to five different locations.
“These aren’t just little boxes,” Rose said.
“These aren’t little containers that are stacked one by one.”
State Rep. Brian Lee has also expressed support for the project, as have state Senators Mike Gabbard, Josh Green and Russell Ruderman.
“It is all about collaboration,” Montgomery said. “The only way this is going to happen is if we work on this together.”
A second tiny house community session will be held in Honokaa from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Feb. 22, at the Hawaiian Cultural Center of Hamakua.
For more information, visit http://www.oneisland.org/…/home-is-where-the-farm-is-tiny-h…....
Email Ivy Ashe at iashe@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
January 30,2017
The "Dutch" Schuman Big Island Paniolo Scholarship Fund
The scholarship is accepting applications for the 2017-2018 school year. It is open to any Big Island high school senior who will attend an accredited two or four year college/university. The student must be raised on the Big Island and have a background in ranching, cattle and or horses. The fund will provide $2000 per year to assist with tuition. The deadline for submission is June 1st and the award will be made on July 1st.
This scholarship was created in memory of Gusatv "Dutch" Schuman, the third-generation leader of Schuman Carriage Co; owner of the SC ranch, Pa'auilo, Big Island; and former Hawaiian Home Lands commissioner. Throughout his life Dutch's true passion was with horses and cattle. While he was successful businessman, he was a cowboy at heart. He loved every aspect of ranching, and took particular interest in encouraging younger generations to pursue their interests in animal husbandry. This scholarship fund is dedicated to preserve Dutch's legacy, and to acknowledge his numerous contributions to the people of Hawaii.
Please write to dutchschuman@outlook.com to obtain the application or call Rich Smylie, 808-381-2950.
January 10, 2017
Tiny House Community Conversation
A community conversation on the topic of Tiny House Solutions will be held to explore innovative affordable housing. This is an open forum for the community to participate in, to learn more and discuss what can be done in North Hawai'i for affordable and alternative housing options. State Representative Evans will be in attendance to show her support for Tiny House Solutions.
If you would like more information on the event, please visit www.oneisland.org. To RSVP and get directions, please e-mail greenschool@oneisland.org.
March 13, 2015
Slot Machines Could Fund Airport Upgrades
Evans, D-North Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala, is sponsoring HB 91, allowing the installation of slot machines, first at Honolulu Inter-national Airport, and later, once international flights return to West Hawaii, at Kona International Airport. Evans sees the bill as an "outside the box" way to raise money for airport improvements. Kona International Airport, for example, needs about $52 million in upgrades and the creation of a safe holding area for international travelers before U.S. Customs will allow international flights to return.View full article
March 13, 2015
Big Island Lawmakers Hope to Give Terminally Ill Access to Experimental Drugs, Treatments
Rep. Cindy Evans, D-North Kona, North Kohala, South Kohala, learned about the "Right to Try" effort while at a national conference put on by The Council of State Governments. Evans, a self-described proponent of medical freedom and choice, said she introduced HB 92 because she thought it was worth more discussion. The proposed measure provides access for terminally ill patients to receive investigational drugs, biological products and devices that have not received final FDA approval.View full article
February 15, 2015
Push for Kua bay Lifeguards
Evans, D-North Kona, Kohala, has introduced a bill that would appropriate $200,000 for lifeguarding services at the increasingly popular and often dangerous North Kona beach. House Bill 527 would fund salaries, benefits, equipment, and other expenses related to bringing ocean safety officers to the state beach.Evans and her staff have requested emergency statistics on Kua Bay from the Hawaii County Fire Department, but the lawmaker said she doesn't want to rely solely on the data.
View full article
February 7, 2015
State Goes After Albizia
State legislators are taking dead aim at albizia trees in response to the devastation wrought by the invasive species following Tropical Storm Iselle.
A total of nine bills directly targeting albizia have been introduced for the 2015 session, including identical companion bills in the House and Senate seeking $2.1 million to remove the most dangerous trees that remain standing near Hawaii Island roadways.
The dangers of the albizia tree, which is the fastest-growing tree in the world but also highly unstable, have long been known by arborists and others impacted by the falling trees, but the general public was largely unaware until lower Puna roads, buildings, vehicles, utility lines were damaged by falling trees in the wake of Iselle's arrival in early August.
View full article