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| Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park rangers report that Mauna Loa Cabin and other areas in the Mauna Loa backcountry sustained little or no damage as a result of Tropical Storm Iselle. NPS Photo by Talmadge Magno |
THE IDEA THAT MAUNA LOA AND MAUNA KEA deflect tropical storms and hurricanes did not hold water during Iselle, according to meteorologists.
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| Meterologists say Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea do not deflect tropical storms and hurricanes. Graph from peaklist.org |
“We didn’t see any significant deflecting effect,” National Weather Service science and operations officer Robert Ballard told Bret Yager, of West Hawai`i Today. “Iselle slowed down, but it passed right over the island. When it slowed down, it made it even worse; it kept the center over the water longer, and it kept the rain and strong winds over the island longer.”
Mike Cantin, a former warning coordination meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, told Yager that friction of the lower part of Iselle circulating on land kept its base in place while the top continued to move west.
“The lower part of the storm was trying to push against a wall,” Cantin said. “It oozed out to the south, and the top went over the mountains. That weakened it dramatically. Cyclones like to be vertically stacked.”
The mountains wrung moisture out of the system, Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, chief weather officer with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, told Yager. “You got peaks more than 13,000 feet and an island 60 miles wide. That has a profound effect on wind circulation,” he said. “Iselle was a jumbled mess when it got out the other side, and it never got its act together.”
While the Kona side of Hawai`i Island escaped effects of the Iselle, “if that storm came in from the southwest, it would have been an entirely different story,” Talbot said.
Mike Cantin, a former warning coordination meteorologist with the Central Pacific Hurricane Center, told Yager that friction of the lower part of Iselle circulating on land kept its base in place while the top continued to move west.
“The lower part of the storm was trying to push against a wall,” Cantin said. “It oozed out to the south, and the top went over the mountains. That weakened it dramatically. Cyclones like to be vertically stacked.”
The mountains wrung moisture out of the system, Lt. Col. Jon Talbot, chief weather officer with the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, told Yager. “You got peaks more than 13,000 feet and an island 60 miles wide. That has a profound effect on wind circulation,” he said. “Iselle was a jumbled mess when it got out the other side, and it never got its act together.”
While the Kona side of Hawai`i Island escaped effects of the Iselle, “if that storm came in from the southwest, it would have been an entirely different story,” Talbot said.
See westhawaiitoday.com.
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| Sen. Brian Schatz campaigned in Puna yesterday, where voting occurred for polling places that were shuttered during Tropical Storm Iselle on Election Day. Photo from twitter |
At Cooper Center, Schatz received 430 votes, and Hanabusa got 259. Ka`u High was Hanabusa’s most winning precinct, with 183 votes compared to 105 for Schatz. Na`alehu School precinct also went to Hanabusa, 202 to 190. Ocean View Community Center precinct went to Schatz, 247 to 136. Miloli`i’s turnout for Schatz was more than double for Hanabusa, 101 to 46.
For the five local precincts, the 13 percent difference is much larger than islandwide and statewide counts. Overall, Hawai`i Island residents cast 1.5 percent more votes for Schatz, and statewide, the spread was even closer at 0.7 percent.
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| Kipukapuaulu Trail has reopened after being closed by Tropical Storm Iselle. Map from NPS |
THE POPULAR FORESTED TRAIL AT KIPUKAPUAULU (known locally as Bird Park), Namakanipaio campground, and Mauna Loa summit and backcountry within Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park are now open. The areas were closed for over a week due to Tropical Storm Iselle.
Mauna Loa Road is open to hikers and pedestrians, but is currently closed to vehicles. Visitors who want to access Mauna Loa trail, the summit and Pu`u`ula`ula (Red Hill) or Mauna Loa cabins must obtain a backcountry permit at the Visitor Emergency Operations Center. A gate code for Mauna Loa Road will be provided with the permit. Call 985-6178 for information.
“We’re delighted to report that most of the places visitors typically visit within the national park are now open,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Our park crews mobilized quickly, safely and efficiently to reopen as much of the park as possible following Iselle.”
All coastal trails and coastal backcountry campsites are open within the park. Napau and Kulanaokuaiki campsites and Pepeiao Cabin are also open. Power has been restored, and most phones are working throughout the park. Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum have returned to normal operating hours.
Iselle snapped trail signs off posts in some areas and damaged park resources, including a historic home at `Ainahou and a greenhouse used to propagate endangered plants. Potential damage to fencing in remote areas and the coastal nesting sites of the endangered hawksbill turtle are still being assessed.
“We’re delighted to report that most of the places visitors typically visit within the national park are now open,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Our park crews mobilized quickly, safely and efficiently to reopen as much of the park as possible following Iselle.”
All coastal trails and coastal backcountry campsites are open within the park. Napau and Kulanaokuaiki campsites and Pepeiao Cabin are also open. Power has been restored, and most phones are working throughout the park. Kilauea Visitor Center and Jaggar Museum have returned to normal operating hours.
Iselle snapped trail signs off posts in some areas and damaged park resources, including a historic home at `Ainahou and a greenhouse used to propagate endangered plants. Potential damage to fencing in remote areas and the coastal nesting sites of the endangered hawksbill turtle are still being assessed.
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HA`AHEO KAKOU `O KA`U IS KA`U HIGH TROJANS’ manao nui (unifying theme), Athletic Director Kalei Namohala told The Ka`u Calendar. Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School services a vast area that includes Ocean View, Kahuku, South Point, Discovery Harbour, Mark Twain, Wai`ohinu, Na`alehu, Honu`apo, Kawa, Punalu`u, Moa`ula Pahala and Kapapala. The purpose of the theme is “to unify ourselves as one unit,” Namohala said.
“You may hear the teachers, coaches and players yelling out ‘Ha`aheo Kakou’ and in response teams, students and community would say ‘`O Ka`u.’ The meaning behind the saying is ‘We are proud to be of/from Ka`u!’ We hope this unifying theme will increase the students’, teachers’, families’ and communities’ pride in Ka`u High & Pahala Elementary School, in addition to having a sense of self, being from Ka`u,” Namohala said.
Namohala also reported news of this year’s Trojan teams.
Eight-man football’s first game of the season is Friday, Aug. 22 at Kealakehe rather than Saturday, Aug 23 as reported in the August issue of The Ka`u Calendar.
Jessica Carroll has been named head cheerleading coach for this year. This is a building year for the program. “We hope to have our cheerleaders at our home football and basketball games this year,” Namohala said.
Darryl Shibuya has been named head coach for Boys Varsity Basketball. Shibuya was head JV Boys Basketball coach last year. “He knows the athletic system at KHPES,” Namohala said. “We look forward to a great season with our new and returning players.”
David Brooks has been named head coach for girls soccer. He is a teacher at KHPES. “He has vast knowledge and experience in soccer, and we hope for a successful season,” Namohala said.
Trojans are accepting application for Boys Baseball. Anyone interested can pick up an application at the school office from Aug. 18 to Sept. 18. For more information, contact Namohala at 313-4100.
Eight-man football’s first game of the season is Friday, Aug. 22 at Kealakehe rather than Saturday, Aug 23 as reported in the August issue of The Ka`u Calendar.
Jessica Carroll has been named head cheerleading coach for this year. This is a building year for the program. “We hope to have our cheerleaders at our home football and basketball games this year,” Namohala said.
Darryl Shibuya has been named head coach for Boys Varsity Basketball. Shibuya was head JV Boys Basketball coach last year. “He knows the athletic system at KHPES,” Namohala said. “We look forward to a great season with our new and returning players.”
David Brooks has been named head coach for girls soccer. He is a teacher at KHPES. “He has vast knowledge and experience in soccer, and we hope for a successful season,” Namohala said.
Trojans are accepting application for Boys Baseball. Anyone interested can pick up an application at the school office from Aug. 18 to Sept. 18. For more information, contact Namohala at 313-4100.
To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.
A NEW PROGRAM AT THE KAHUKU UNIT of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park takes place tomorrow from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. During Kahuku: Born From A Hotspot, participants learn about the birth of the islands from the Hawaiian hotspot and about past eruptions that impacted Kahuku. Visitors will be able to identify various pu`u (hills) and other volcanic features and learn about their formation. Call 985-6011 for more information.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS’ invite everyone to their 13th annual potluck reunion at Pahala Community Center tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy a day of fun, live music and good food.
For more information, contact Lovey Grantz at 982-8242 or James Yamaki at 969-6828.
EARTH MATTERS FARMS HOLD A COMMUNITY POTLUCK tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of South Point and Kama`oa Roads. Guest speakers discuss Big Island agriculture. Call 939-7510 for more information.
KA`U HIGH CLASS OF 1979 REUNION is coming up on Friday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Contact Margo Lu Takata or Holli Wade on facebook for info.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
KA`U HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI & FRIENDS’ invite everyone to their 13th annual potluck reunion at Pahala Community Center tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Organizers encourage attendees to bring a favorite dish to share and enjoy a day of fun, live music and good food.
For more information, contact Lovey Grantz at 982-8242 or James Yamaki at 969-6828.
EARTH MATTERS FARMS HOLD A COMMUNITY POTLUCK tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the corner of South Point and Kama`oa Roads. Guest speakers discuss Big Island agriculture. Call 939-7510 for more information.
KA`U HIGH CLASS OF 1979 REUNION is coming up on Friday, Aug. 22 at 6 p.m. at Rays on the Bay at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Contact Margo Lu Takata or Holli Wade on facebook for info.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
