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| Hannah's Makana `Ohana halau shared hula with Ka`u School of the Arts at Ocean View Community Center, wrapping a Christmas concert series at Pahala Plantation House yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
KA`U HOSPITAL COMMUNITY NEEDS SURVEY is available through Jan. 31, 2014 for area residents to fill out online and help guide the future of health care in the district.
Survey questions ask where Ka`u residents are receiving health care, from emergency services to cardiology, cancer and other ailments. There are questions about insurance and needs for improvements as well as the satisfaction of Ka`u residents with current services. The short survey can be taken at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX and through a link at krhcai.com, Ka`u Rural Health Community Association.
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| Measurements of gas emissions from Halema`uma`u are becoming more accurate. Photo from USGS |
BEGINNING JAN. 1, 2014, HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY will report the range of sulfur dioxide emission rates from the summit of Kilauea volcano based on measurements made with a new technique that gives more accurate measurements. HVO reports that, while gas numbers are going up, emissions are not. “Expect to see a dramatic jump in these values, but keep in mind that the actual SO2 coming out of Kilauea has not changed – just our way of measuring and reporting it,” according to the latest issue of Volcano Watch.
The new system uses an array of 10 upward-facing spectrometers downwind of Kilauea summit that measures the amount of ultraviolet light the gas plume absorbs. From these data, HVO calculates how much gas is in the plume.
Gas numbers presently come from one upward-looking spectrometer mounted on top of a vehicle that is regularly driven beneath the gas plume. The data are summed over the length of the vehicle traverse and multiplied by the average wind speed to obtain an emission rate.
This method, pioneered at Kilauea and used at volcanoes worldwide, works best for gas plumes that appear visually thin and wispy, according to HVO. This was the case at Kilauea’s summit through 2007 and along Chain of Craters Road, where SO2 in the plume emanating from the long-running east rift eruption was measured.
In early 2008, summit emissions leading to the beginning of the eruption at Halema`uma`u in March ramped up to levels unseen before. During the first half of 2008, the summit plume also became milky in appearance, causing SO2 emission rates to be underestimated.
The fixed-array system became operational last year, and since then, HVO has been optimizing its performance while comparing it with vehicle-based values and other monitoring data.
Comparisons between vehicle-based and fixed-array techniques over the past few months have shown that the actual emission rate values were several times higher than pre-2014 estimates. The vehicle-based SO2 emission rate measurements for Dec. 11 were about 600 tonnes per day, while the fixed-array measurements during that week were between 1,300 and 3,100 tonnes per day.
Gas numbers presently come from one upward-looking spectrometer mounted on top of a vehicle that is regularly driven beneath the gas plume. The data are summed over the length of the vehicle traverse and multiplied by the average wind speed to obtain an emission rate.
This method, pioneered at Kilauea and used at volcanoes worldwide, works best for gas plumes that appear visually thin and wispy, according to HVO. This was the case at Kilauea’s summit through 2007 and along Chain of Craters Road, where SO2 in the plume emanating from the long-running east rift eruption was measured.
In early 2008, summit emissions leading to the beginning of the eruption at Halema`uma`u in March ramped up to levels unseen before. During the first half of 2008, the summit plume also became milky in appearance, causing SO2 emission rates to be underestimated.
The fixed-array system became operational last year, and since then, HVO has been optimizing its performance while comparing it with vehicle-based values and other monitoring data.
Comparisons between vehicle-based and fixed-array techniques over the past few months have shown that the actual emission rate values were several times higher than pre-2014 estimates. The vehicle-based SO2 emission rate measurements for Dec. 11 were about 600 tonnes per day, while the fixed-array measurements during that week were between 1,300 and 3,100 tonnes per day.
See hvo.wr.usgs.gov.
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| Applications for scholarships and grants provided by the Thirty Meter Telescope project will be accepted begin next year. Image from tmt.org |
THE HAWAI`I ISLAND NEW KNOWLEDGE FUND will begin accepting scholarship and grant applications next year, reports Megan Moseley in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald. The funds are for Big Island students interested in science, technology, engineering and math. THINK is an outreach program of the Thirty Meter Telescope project, which is planning to build one of the world’s largest telescopes on Mauna Kea.
According to tmt.org, funding of the scholarships and grants “will commence with the issuance of the project’s Conservation District Use Permit by Hawai`i’s Department of Land and Natural Resources in conjunction with the start of construction.” While the project is currently facing a lawsuit, Sandra Dawson, Hawai`i community affairs manager for TMT, told Moseley the THINK program would go forward if no injunction is issued.
“THINK's vision is to raise STEM education as a core community value,” the website states. “In doing so, THINK initiatives will pave the way for the academic, physical, emotional and social success for Hawai`i Island students so they may become self-directed, lifelong learners who think critically and creatively and function as responsible productive members of society.”
“THINK's vision is to raise STEM education as a core community value,” the website states. “In doing so, THINK initiatives will pave the way for the academic, physical, emotional and social success for Hawai`i Island students so they may become self-directed, lifelong learners who think critically and creatively and function as responsible productive members of society.”
The fund is designed to provide $1 million per year for STEM-related education on Hawai`i Island over the life of the TMT lease on Mauna Kea.
Dawson told Moseley that three-fourths of the fund will go to the Hawai`i Committee Foundation, which provides scholarships and grants to students throughout the state, and that the remaining one-fourth will go toward Honolulu-based Ke Ali`i Pauahi Foundation, which supports Kamehameha Schools.
Keawe Liu, executive director of Ke Ali`i Pauahi Foundation, told Moseley, “We’re excited to do good in the community. This is going to make a significant impact on the Hawai`i Island and Hawaiian community.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
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| Ka`u School of the Arts president Bradley Grohs (right) shared hula with Kumu Marcia Laimana Bulusan and students at a Pahala Plantation House concert yesterday. Photo by Julia Neal |
DURING CHRISTMAS CONCERTS around the district, Ka`u School of the Arts president Bradley Grohs invited community members to programs for 2014. They include Ka`u Community Chorus, led by Grohs on Mondays at 6 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall, with the offer to hold practices in the other communities as well. Also offered is Hula Kahiko with Kumu Hula Marcia Laimana Buluson. Classes are Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. She said she is also willing to hold classes in the other Ka`u villages. Ka`u `Ohana Band, led by Cynthia Decker, meets Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4 p.m. at Ocean View Community Center.
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| Mike Munnerlyn and Mona Chow assembled little red wagons for a past Pahala Christmas Tree celebraation. Photo by Julia Neal |
For more information on all of the Ka`u School of the Arts programs, call 854-1540 or email info@kauarts.org.
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CHRISTMAS GIFTS FOR THE KEIKI, music and food for everyone takes place around the Pahala Christmas tree tomorrow, Christmas Eve. The celebration is in memory of the late Keala Kailiawa, who started the tradition. The gathering is next to the gas station at 6 p.m. with caroling led by Keoki Kahumoku and his `ukulele kids.
NA`ALEHU UNITED METHODIST CHURCH across from the post office invites the public to Christmas Eve service tomorrow at 7 p.m. The service includes Word, carols, music and joy with the Bells of Aloha hand bell choir and the church choir. The service ends in candlelight with the singing of Silent Night.
Call 929-9949 for more information.
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| Pianists Ben Houghton and David Mattson played J.S. Bach's Concerto in D Minor at Ka`u School of the Arts' concerts around the district. Photo by Julia Neal |
Hana Hou Restaurant in Na`alehu offers Christmas Eve dinner tomorrow from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., featuring prime rib, deluxe seafood platter, stuffed acorn squash and shrimp linguine. Dinners include starters and special desserts and music with Ernie Kalani.
Call 929-9717 for reservations.
South Side Shaka’s in Na`alehu is open for breakfast and lunch tomorrow, closing at 4 p.m. Regular hours on Christmas Day offer breakfast beginning at 7 a.m. and regular menu items until 8:30 p.m.
Call 929-7404.
Kilauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park offers Christmas Day Buffet from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.
Call 967-8356 for more information.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL BOYS BASKETBALL placed third in St. Joseph’s tournament held Dec. 19 - 21. Thursday, Dec. 19, Ka`u beat St. Joseph’s 63-59, with Alexis Alejo and Chance Emmsley scoring 12 points, Larry Navarro with 11 points and Brian Gascon with five points. On Friday, Dec. 20, Ka`u lost against Hilo. Scores were 23-59, with Larry Navarro and Franklin Orcino, Jr. scoring five points each. Ka`u boys basketball team will kick its regular season off on Friday, Jan. 3, hosting the Kamehameha Warriors.
KA`U HIGH SOCCER TEAMS played against Makualani on Saturday, Dec. 21. Ka`u girls soccer lost 7-0, and Ka`u boys lost 3-1. Next match for Ka`u boys & girls soccer will be on Thursday, Jan. 2, hosting Kea`au at 2 p.m. and at 4 p.m.
SEE THE DIRECTORY 2013 from the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce at kauchamber.org.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
