Ford’s two-acre property is in the Leilani Estates subdivision, a 45-year-old tract where homes are separated by vibrantly green foliage dotted with old-growth ohia trees. It sits more than 10 miles from the the closest active lava flow, yet, it’s in Zone 1. The land underneath a nearby development, Nanawale Estates, was inundated in 1840 but is in Zone 2, as is the town of Pahoa.

Liberty Mutual insured Ford’s 2,200-square foot, three-bedroom home that was assessed at $231,000 for $424 last year. The company had wanted to cancel her policy last year after it decided to no longer cover homes in zones 1 and 2, but relented for one year after Ford complained to state regulators.

But the coverage has now lapsed, and Ford’s separate hurricane policy also jumped much higher.

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Down to Earth plans to expand its business to the Big Island this fall with the opening of a new store in Hilo.

The Honolulu-based vegetarian natural foods chain also plans to complete remodels to its stores in Kahului on Maui and Kailua on Oahu by early next year.

The Hilo store, a 5,500-square-foot space in the Wal-Mart shopping center, will be the chain’s fifth store in the Islands, and the first on the Big Island. The company expects to hire 50 employees for the new store, which will open in October or November. The space’s current occupant, Island Naturals Market, is moving to the Hilo Shopping Center in September.

“Our expansion is a response to consumer demand,” said Down to Earth CEO Mark Fergusson. “Customers from underserved parts of the state have been asking us to come to their neighborhoods for years. We’re thrilled to be able to do that now, with initial focus on the Big Island. Other locations are being considered.”

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Nancy is headed to court today, and Tiffany received a letter from her and posted it on her site.

An excerpt:

I’m writing to ask everyone to keep me, and our church, Sacred Truth Mission, in your thoughts and prayers. And if you are in or close to Hilo, please join us in court. We are scheduled for 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and again at 1:30 p.m. We will be holding a prayer circle outside the courtroom at 7:55 a.m., and again at 1:25 p.m..

It really does help to have people there in court watching, and in the prayer circle. Even though I am personally honored and blessed to be able to do this work, being tried as a criminal is a stressful ordeal, and it helps to have some friendly faces in the courtroom.

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Development will be on department land near Prince Kuhio Plaza, Hilo’s largest shopping center. The stores are expected to open in 2011.

Target’s 120,000-square-foot store is expected to employ about 300 people. About 200 people are expected to work at Safeway’s 60,000-square-foot store.

DHHL Director Micah Kane says the agency is committed to building homes for Native Hawaiians, but also wants to improve the quality of life for those in the surrounding area.

Source: Maui News