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| As it enters the ocean, lava cascading over cliffs at Kamokuna is creating an unstable lava delta that could collapse at any time. Photo by Peter Anderson |
DURING A SPECIAL MEDIA briefing yesterday, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologists and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park rangers talked about hazards associated with Kilauea Volcano’s active lava flow and ocean entries, the exciting scientific opportunities posed by flow 61G, and how visitors can safely hike to and view the beauty of lava flowing on land and into the sea.
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| Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory personnel briefed media on hazards, scientific opportunities and safety procedures at lava view sites. Photo from USGS/HVO |
People who venture too close to Kilauea’s Kamokuna ocean entry – by land or by sea – are at risk from multiple hazards associated with lava flowing into the sea. According to HVO geologists, the white plume formed by interaction of lava and seawater is a corrosive mixture of super-heated steam, hydrochloric acid and tiny particles of volcanic glass, all of which should be avoided. Lava deltas (new land formed at the ocean entry) can collapse without warning. When such events occur, fragments of molten lava and blocks of hot rock could be thrown both inland and seaward, potentially impacting people on the cliff above the ocean entry and in boats in front of the delta.
The eastern entry site has created a lava delta that HVO said is now about five acres in size, and as it grows larger, so does the risk of a sudden collapse. The beauty of Kilauea Volcano’s eastern Kamokuna ocean entry can be enjoyed from a safe distance.To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Luis P. Salaveria |
WITH 686,856 ACRES OF LAND in farms, Hawai`i Island in 2015 far exceeded acres in other counties in the state, according to the 2015 State of Hawai`i Data Book. The county had nearly three times more than Maui, nearly five times more than Kaua`i and nearly 10 times more than Honolulu.
The market value of Hawai`i Island agricultural products sold was $247,245,000, compared to $188,100,000 for Maui, $64,514,000 for Kaua`i and $161,488,000 for Honolulu.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released the the Data Book today. It is the most comprehensive statistical book about Hawai`i in a single compilation. With more than 800 data tables, it covers a broad range of statistical information in areas such as population, education, labor, energy, business enterprises, government, tourism and transportation.
“The state’s Data Book provides comprehensive information from all sources, both public and private,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “It’s the most popular product on the DBEDT website and has been consistently produced for 47 years.”
“We try to add more data series to the Data Book to accommodate a wide range of data needs,” said Chief State Economist Dr. Eugene Tian. “Among the new data series in this Data Book are the Hawai`i homes purchased by origin of buyers.”
The resource is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/databook/ and may be downloaded in whole or in part as either PDF or Excel files.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
The state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism released the the Data Book today. It is the most comprehensive statistical book about Hawai`i in a single compilation. With more than 800 data tables, it covers a broad range of statistical information in areas such as population, education, labor, energy, business enterprises, government, tourism and transportation.
“The state’s Data Book provides comprehensive information from all sources, both public and private,” said DBEDT Director Luis P. Salaveria. “It’s the most popular product on the DBEDT website and has been consistently produced for 47 years.”
“We try to add more data series to the Data Book to accommodate a wide range of data needs,” said Chief State Economist Dr. Eugene Tian. “Among the new data series in this Data Book are the Hawai`i homes purchased by origin of buyers.”
The resource is available at dbedt.hawaii.gov/economic/databook/ and may be downloaded in whole or in part as either PDF or Excel files.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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He Lono Moku: The State of the Environment,
Hawai`i 2016 was released today.
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A REPORT RELEASED TODAY seeks to track progress of critical resource protection work underway in Hawai`i, as well as identify opportunities to make game-changing impacts. Hawai`i Environmental Funders Group’s 2016 report is the first of annual reports that the group plans to publish.
According to He Lono Moku: The State of the Environment, Hawai`i 2016, the Department of Land & Natural Resources stewards about 30 percent of the state’s land and water resources, yet is allocated only 1.1 percent of the state’s fiscal year 2017 budget. Resources include 1.3 million acres of land, forests that are 11th in acreage in the nation, 750 miles of coastline, and 85 percent of the county’s coral reefs.
The state Department of Agriculture will receive 0.4 percent of the budget. “As climate change gains momentum, increasing the risk of the spread of disease through avenues such as mosquitoes, HDOA’s role is more important than ever,” the report states.
State Board of Agriculture Chair Scott Enright told Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that many people don’t understand the importance of the role his department plays in the environment.
“We need to grow that (budget), certainly if the state of Hawai`i is going to be proactive toward greater food sustainability, invasive species, bio-security, animal diseases and plant diseases,” Enright said.
Hawai`i’s environment is “out of balance and faces challenges illustrated by many symptoms,” according to the report. One of those symptoms is that more than 60 percent of area that provided native habitats has been destroyed. Another is that Hawai`i is the most oil-dependent state in the county. Nine percent of beaches have been lost to erosion over the past century. Hawai`i has the highest number of threatened and endangered species in the nation, and more than half of Hawai`i’s native birds are extinct. Also, some sites have lost 85 to 100 percent of corals due to bleaching caused by record high temperatures.
The state Department of Agriculture will receive 0.4 percent of the budget. “As climate change gains momentum, increasing the risk of the spread of disease through avenues such as mosquitoes, HDOA’s role is more important than ever,” the report states.
State Board of Agriculture Chair Scott Enright told Timothy Hurley, of Honolulu Star-Advertiser, that many people don’t understand the importance of the role his department plays in the environment.
“We need to grow that (budget), certainly if the state of Hawai`i is going to be proactive toward greater food sustainability, invasive species, bio-security, animal diseases and plant diseases,” Enright said.
Hawai`i’s environment is “out of balance and faces challenges illustrated by many symptoms,” according to the report. One of those symptoms is that more than 60 percent of area that provided native habitats has been destroyed. Another is that Hawai`i is the most oil-dependent state in the county. Nine percent of beaches have been lost to erosion over the past century. Hawai`i has the highest number of threatened and endangered species in the nation, and more than half of Hawai`i’s native birds are extinct. Also, some sites have lost 85 to 100 percent of corals due to bleaching caused by record high temperatures.
See the report at helonomoku.com.
See staradvertiser.com.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Students can apply now for U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz's Senior High School Internship Program. Photo from Office of Sen. Schatz. |
THE OFFICE OF U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz is looking for enthusiastic, self-motivated and involved high school seniors for the Schatz Seniors High School Internship Program. The internship provides a hands-on learning opportunity about the U.S. Senate, creates a forum for students to share issues and information with the senator and his staff, and encourages students to be leaders and advocates in their schools and communities. Activities involve working with outreach staff, identifying issues of interest in their school and community, and attending and staffing special events.
This is not an office position, and students should miss little or no class time in performing the tasks or assignments related to the program. The internship generally runs from October through April, and interns must commit for the full term.
Public, private, charter and homeschool seniors may apply. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and have personal access to email throughout the internship. Schatz Seniors will be selected based on their involvement in their community (jobs, activities and responsibilities), diversity of interests and life experiences, and demonstrated leadership involvement.
The office is currently accepting applications for the 2016 – 2017 program. Applications are due by 5:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, but interested students are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applications are available at schatz.senate.gov/services/internships.
Staff is available to provide more information or speak at high schools or school associations about the program. Contact the Honolulu office at 808-523-2061.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
Public, private, charter and homeschool seniors may apply. Students must have a GPA of 2.5 or better and have personal access to email throughout the internship. Schatz Seniors will be selected based on their involvement in their community (jobs, activities and responsibilities), diversity of interests and life experiences, and demonstrated leadership involvement.
The office is currently accepting applications for the 2016 – 2017 program. Applications are due by 5:59 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 16, but interested students are strongly encouraged to apply early. Applications are available at schatz.senate.gov/services/internships.
Staff is available to provide more information or speak at high schools or school associations about the program. Contact the Honolulu office at 808-523-2061.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.
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| Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger wrote Kilauea 1916: A Centennial Celebration of KMC & HVNP that opens Friday. Photo from KDEN |
KILAUEA 1916: A CENTENNIAL Celebration of KMC & HVNP opens Friday. The show explores the unique partnership between Kilauea Military Camp and the Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park that began in 1916. In honor of KMC’s and the park’s centennial, Ka`u resident Dick Hershberger, who portrays Dr. Thomas Jaggar in KDEN’s Living History program, A Walk Into the Past, wrote the look at some of the characters who were a part of the Volcano community as the camp and park became a reality. The show is a series of vignettes where characters tell their story, narrated by a reporter having a conversation with Mrs. Isabel Jaggar as she prepares to board a ship in Honolulu to take her back to Hilo and her Volcano home.
Performances take place at Kilauea Theater Fridays and Saturdays at 7:30 p.m. and Sundays at 2:30 p.m. over the next two weekends. Tickets are $10 and available at the door.
For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
For reservations or more information, call 982-7344 or email kden73@aol.com.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS ATPAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM ANDKAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
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| See kaucalendar.com/KauCalendar_August_2016.pdf. |
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| See kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.html and kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory2016.pdf. |
