State court affirms land’s use for road

KAILUA-KONA » The state Supreme Court has upheld Hawaii County’s 2005 condemnation of property in South Kona for the Mamalahoa bypass road.

West Hawaii Today reports the 72-page ruling was handed down Wednesday.

The owner of the land, the Coupe family, has 90 days to ask the court to reconsider its decision or to request the U.S. Supreme Court to take the case.

The 5.5-mile bypass road was initially to be built by 1250 Oceanside Partners as part of the luxury Hokulia subdivision development.

Incoming Hawaii County Council Chairman Dominic Yagong calls the road project a priority for the Big Island.

Palm-oil fuel plan sparks criticism

Environmentalists have come out against a plan to use palm oil-derived biodiesel from Malaysia for a demonstration project on Maui.

In June, Hawaiian Electric Co. received state permission to buy 1 million gallons of the biodiesel from Sime Darby of Malaysia. The fuel is to be used by HECO subsidiary Maui Electric Co. at the Maalaea Power Plant.

The Maui News reports that environmentalists complain plantations of the African oil palm replace rain forests in places like Malaysia, Indonesia and Borneo.

The director of Life of the Land, Henry Curtis, calls palm oil production "a human rights issue, a cultural issue and a justice issue."

In response, HECO said Tuesday that it shares a concern for the environment and human rights.