Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, December 22, 2017

Lava is breaking out at the bottom of the pali on the coastal plain. A geologist marks a G.P.S. waypoint.
USGS photo

THE NEW FEDERAL TAX BILL, signed into law Friday, Dec. 22, by Pres. Donald Trump, received a quick review by Hawai‘i Gov. David Ige's team. "This week, House and Senate Republicans hastily passed a federal tax bill that President Trump signed today. What does this mean for the people of Hawai‘i? The corporate tax rate will drop, and the income tax for working families will temporarily be lowered. But in the long run, our working families could face a tax hike. Governor Ige has always stood up for the values of Hawai‘i in the face of national issues, from rejecting the Travel Ban to signing onto the Paris Climate Accord. Team Ige has no doubt that he will continue fighting for the working families in Hawai‘i. "The tax break in the bill only provides a short term solution for us. The state and local tax deduction cap, as well as the mortgage interest deduction cap, will mean that the people of Hawai‘i will get some kind of tax break in the short run but overtime will eventually face such consequences from it, like cutbacks in federal services.

     "The tax break would also affect housing since costs are high, and this could really hurt us and the many families who may never fulfill their dream of home ownership. Additionally, the elimination of private activity bonds, or tax-exempt bonds for special projects, could mean that the state could face a decrease in funding for initiatives aimed at improving and developing low-income communities. Finally, this bill could discourage tourist spending and hurt a significant part of our economy.   

Rubbly clinker and other ‘a‘ā formations moving down the pali.
U.S.G.S. photo

     "Governor Ige has always represented the values of Hawai‘i by keeping his promise of promoting economic diversity and growth. The new G.O.P. federal tax bill goes against the values of Hawai‘i, and Governor Ige's leadership is imperative to our state's progress," says the statement from Team David Ige.

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LAVA IS DIVERTED FROM THE KAMOKUNA DELTA by an evolving tube network that blocks it, says this week's Volcano Watch from scientists at the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory:
     Lava erupting from the active vent on the east flank of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō has not entered the ocean or reached the Kamokuna lava delta during the past month. Instead, small lava flows are scattered across the 61g flow field, breaking out from the lava-tube network between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the coastal plain. Geologists of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory last observed active lava atop the delta on November 17.

Breakouts active on the pali but not near the ocean on Thursday.
U.S.G.S. Photo

     For nearly 16 months beginning on July 26, 2016, lava traveled through an evolving lava-tube network into the ocean at Kamokuna. Lava alternately built new land into the ocean when the steep submarine slope grew sufficiently seaward to support a lava delta; and poured directly into the ocean as a great lava fall when the delta and submarine slope collapsed, shearing the tube at the sea cliff and exposing a lava stream 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft) in diameter gushing into the ocean.
     Earlier this year, with commercial boat operators taking people to the lava entry by sea, and thousands of people viewing the lava fall from the established viewing area inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park or by helicopter, more people probably witnessed this lava fall than any other since lava first reached the ocean in 1986.
    Why did the lava delta become inactive? Simply, lava stopped reaching the delta either through the tube or as surface flows, slowly at first, and then intermittently.

Thermal map of the 61g lava flow, created on Dec. 12. The thermal map is limited to the current flow (episode 61g

 flow), which runs along the center of the map. The blue and green colors correspond to lower surface temperatures; to

 areas of cooled, inactive lava. The orange and red colors show areas of hot, active breakouts on the flow surface

 on Dec. 12. The lava-tube network is shown by white lines, mapped from a sequence of thermal images

 made over the past year. Steepest-descent paths, shown as blue lines and calculated from a 2013 digital elevation

 model of the flow field, represent possible flow paths based on topography. U.S.G.S. map

       Most likely, a combination of three factors prevented lava from reaching the delta.

       First, many scattered breakouts from the lava-tube network between Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and the delta effectively decreased the amount of lava reaching the coast. A series of breakouts from the upper section of tube this past summer developed into a second tube on the east side of the 61g flow, diverting an increasing volume of lava from the primary (west) tube and ultimately, the delta.
      For at least the past few weeks, this east tube, which has not yet reached the ocean, appears to be supplying more lava to surface flows than the west tube.

It's been more than a month since lava has flowed into the ocean at the
Kamokuna Delta. Find out why from the scientists at Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory in Volcano Watch. Photo from Lava Ocean Tours

      Second, starting in mid-November, tiltmeters at the summit of Kīlauea recorded two sharp deflationary trends followed by alternating deflation-inflation episodes. These tilt patterns have corresponded well during the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō eruption to a decrease in the supply of magma or an interruption in supply of magma to the erupting vent, respectively.
     Less lava erupting from the vent results in less lava entering the tube network, further diminishing the volume reaching the coastal plain in either branch of the tube network.
     Finally, by mid-November one or more restrictions along the west lava tube on the coastal plain blocked the entire underground lava stream from reaching the delta. Several breakouts from the tube within 100 m (300 ft) of the sea cliff had flowed onto the delta or into the ocean in recent months but after November 14, these flows were too small to make it that far. No active flows in this area have occurred since November 22.
    If the east tube continues to capture more of the lava stream from the west tube and more voluminous breakouts spread eastward, they could eventually travel towards the coast along steepest-descent paths east of the current 61g flow. Stay tuned to the flow's next move by visiting the HVO website at http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov.

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Kane Pō is the pōhaku from Ka‘ū in the outdoor
garden of the Museum of the American Indian
in Washington, D.C. Photo by Julia Neal

KANE PŌ GOES TO WASHINGTON is the featured topic for Coffee Talk at Kahuku next Friday, Dec. 29, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is located near he 70.5 mile marker on Hwy 11. Kane Pō is the name of a large pōhaku (stone) from the Ka‘ū Desert on loan to the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C.
      It was shipped to D.C. for the dedication of the Museum in 2004. Learn more about this pōhaku and the role it has on the National Mall. Keola Awong, former Cultural Anthropologist at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, will share her experience of this special event. Coffee Talk is free to attend. Ka‘ū coffee, tea and pastries will be available for purchase. For more details, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

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TAI CHI CHUAN: YANG LONG FORM 108 is offered at Discovery Harbour Community Hall on Mondays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. A $5 donation is asked of attendees. For more, call David at 785-6644.

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See public Ka‘ū events, meetings entertainment at 
 kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decemberevents.html. 
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/octnovdec/decembercommunity.html.
December print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Swimming: Saturday, Dec. 23, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Dec. 30, @ Kamehameha.
     Saturday, Jan. 6, @Kamehameha.

Girls Basketball: Wednesday, Dec. 27, @ Pāhoa.
     Friday, Jan. 5, Konawaena @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Dec. 30, Konawaena.
     Tuesday, Jan. 2, @ Kea‘au.
     Saturday, Jan. 6, Laupahoehoe @ Ka‘ū.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 6, Konawaena @ Ka‘ū.

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 6, @ Kea‘au.

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A FREE PUBLIC HEALTH SHOWER WITH HOT WATER, soap, shampoo and clean towels is offered at St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View every Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., along with a free hot meal.

VOLUNTEER TO HELP REMOVE INVASIVE NON-NATIVE PLANTS that prevent native plant species from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at two remaining Stewardship at the Park events that take place this December. The upcoming event is Saturday, Dec. 23, with the event also taking place Dec. 30. Volunteers should meet leaders Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. Fore more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church invites the community to a Christmas Eve
Celebration on Sunday, Dec. 24. See event details at left.
Photo from tripadvisor.com

TRAVERSE ALONG A MODERATELY DIFFICULT 2.6 MILE LOOP HIKE through scenic pastures and past an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer on the Palm Trail guided hike that takes place Saturday, Dec. 23, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Highlights include relics of the ranching era, sections of remnant native forest and amazing volcanic features from the 1868 eruptive fissures. The entrance to the Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park can be found near mile marker 70.5 along Hwy. 11. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A BELL CHOIR, MUSIC, AND SINGING WITH GUITARS, ‘Ukulele and other instruments are a highlight of the Christmas Eve celebration on Sunday, Dec. 24, at Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church on Hwy. 11 beginning at 7:30 p.m.

CAROLS, BELLS AND A CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE are offered on Sunday, Dec. 24, at 5 p.m. at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View. The schedule includes carols and bells at 5 p.m., main service at 6:15 p.m., with a potluck after. For more details, visit stjudeshawaii.org or call 939-7000.

PRIME RIB, ROAST TURKEY AND HOLIDAY LAMB STEW are featured on Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café's Christmas Day Buffet menu for Monday, Dec. 25, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The café is located inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Entry fees are $27.95 per adult, and $14.50 per child (age 6-11). Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356.

KA‘Ū FOOD PANTRY offers free food to those in need on Tuesday, Dec. 26, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

LEARN ABOUT THE MYRIAD USES AND SIGNIFICANCE OF THE COCONUT TREE in Hawaiian Culture and in the Pacific during Pulumi Nī‘au Demonstration on Wednesday, Dec. 27, from 10 a.m. to noon at Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Free, park entrance fees apply.

ONE-OF-A-KIND WREATHS IN A VARIETY OF IMAGINATIVE MEDIA, techniques and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional are available for viewing in the concurrent Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit. “Those looking for truly original wreaths as well as one-of-a-kind, handmade gift items will not be disappointed by the selection created by our local artistic community, ” states gallery manager Emily C. Weiss.
     Christmas in the Country features a fresh lineup of artists hosting special events throughout each weekend.
     Christmas in the County featuring the 18th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibit continues through Sunday, Dec. 31, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Free, park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-7565.

STROLL OUTDOORS AND VIEW THE LIGHTS AND DECORATIONS bedecking the stone and wooden cottages at Kīlauea Military Camp within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park through Friday, Jan. 1. Vote on the best decorated cottage. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8371 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

REGISTER BY SUNDAY, DEC. 31, FOR THE 2018 MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEER TRAINING PROGRAM 2018 which begins Saturday, Jan. 23 and continues for 13 weeks. The program is open to Ka‘ū applicants through the UH Cooperative Extension Office.
     Each person enrolling in the Master Gardener Program commits to completing 39 hours of instruction plus nine field trip hours, an open-book Midterm and Final Exam, plus 40 hours of volunteer service within 12 months of completing the Master Gardener instruction. To continue being Certified as a Master Gardener, on-going service of 30 hours of volunteer time is required every year.
     Classes are held at The Kona Cooperative Extension Service office in Kainaliu, with field trips and workshops in the area. The next program will be held for three hours every Tuesday morning through April 17. Classes will be involved with current Master Gardener projects and will include hands-on orientation to the Helpline and Outreach programs.
     Apply online by googling West Hawai‘i Master Gardeners. For more information, call the UH Cooperative Ext. Office at 322-4884.

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