Ka‘ū News Brief Saturday, March 31, 2018

Destruction caused by the 1868 great Kaʻū earthquake included the Waiʻōhinu Congregational Church. With a 
magnitude estimated at 7.9, the earthquake was the largest in Hawaii's recorded history. Photo by Henry L. Chase,
 published in Volcanoes of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa on the Island of Hawaiʻi  by W.T. Brigham, 
Bishop Museum Press, 1909. See story below.

SPINLAUNCH HAS WIDENED ITS SEARCH FOR A SPACE LAUNCH FACILITY. In a bill that would help raise $25 million for the company through tax incentives, the list of possible Hawaiian sites to locate the business has been broadened from Hawaiʻi Island to all of Hawaiʻi. Recently mentioned locations have included South Point, Molokaʻi and Kauaʻi. The possible use of Pohuʻe Bay in Kaʻū, for sale for $18 million, is in retreat.

      The Senator from Oʻahu who proposed the SpinLaunch Special Purpose Revenue Bond for the project, released a news statement on Friday. "I heard from the people in Kaʻū. I don't want to give residents the impression that any future launch site was destined for their neighborhood."

Hawaiʻi Island Economic Development Board posts "Respect for native culture" on its website. The organization
was retained by SpinLaunch to help with community outreach.

     Sen. Glenn Wakai chairs the Senate Committee on Economic Development, Tourism, and Technology, and looked at SpinLaunch as an economic development opportunity. He visited the SpinLaunch headquarters in California to see its model for a spinning machine. SpinLaunch aims to fling small satellites and packages into space at a much lower price than using solid fuel rockets, giving more access to space for research and commerce.

     However, the Aha Moku local Kaʻū advisory group to the state Department of Land & Natural Resources wrote to the legislature, objecting to funding the project before talking to the people here. 

     On Thursday, the Senate Ways and Means Committee recommended approval of HB2559. In his Friday press release, Wakai said that he asked SpinLaunch to search for sites other than Pohuʻe Bay. “I sincerely apologize for alarming the people of Kaʻū," he said. "I still believe Hawai‘i can play a role in the global aerospace industry, but not at Pohuʻe Bay.” 

Liz Kuluwaimaka, Council member Maile David, and Darlyne Vierra asked SpinLaunch
 to talk to Kaʻū before asking for funding. They are shown here with famed paniolo
 Winslow Vierra at a Kaʻū Multicultural event in 2014. Photo by Julia Neal

     Even with Pohuʻe Bay likely off the SpinLaunch radar, Wakai and SpinLaunch representatives plan to keep their meeting with the Kaʻū community on Saturday, April 14, at 10 a.m.
     Also expected to attend is Jacquie Hoover, Executive Director of the Hawaiʻi Island Economic Development Board, who works with private enterprise and is contracted by SpinLaunch for community outreach. The non-profit organization's website at hiedb.org  states that one of its values is "Respect for Native Culture."
     Hosting the meeting will be the Ahu Moku group, including Darlyne Vierra and Liz Kuluwaimaka, who head up the Kaʻū Multicultural Society and experienced long careers in Kaʻū with the Office of Economic Opportunity, which assists the underprivileged.

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THE SEISMIC EVENT THAT DEVASTATED KA‘Ū 150 YEARS AGO is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

The Catholic church built by Sacred Heart fathers, including Saint Damien,
was destroyed by the Great Kaʻū Earthquake in 1868. The remains of the
building have been recovered. It is a garden for native Hawaiian
 and canoe plants.

     This week marks 150 years since the largest earthquake to strike Hawai‘i in the last two centuries. Estimated to have been at least magnitude-7.9, this earthquake struck near Pāhala in the Ka'ū District of the Island of Hawaiʻi on April 2, 1868.

     Known as the Great Kaʻū Earthquake, the event had the same maximum intensity as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, defined as "extreme shaking" on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale. It was felt as far away as Kauaʻi and stopped clocks on Oʻahu. In Kaʻū, where people were bounced like balls from shaking that went on for several minutes, the destruction was nearly total. Stone buildings and walls were destroyed as far away as Hilo.

     The shaking caused landslides from Kaʻū to Hawaiʻi Island's northern Hāmākua coast, and induced a small eruption on Kīlauea Volcano's Southwest Rift Zone. A mudslide in Wood Valley north of Pāhala buried 31 Hawaiians. A tsunami, consisting of at least eight waves over several hours, was estimated to be more than 6 m (20 ft) high in Kaʻū. The waves caused damage from South Point (Kalae) to Cape Kumukahi (Kapoho), destroyed more than 100 structures, and took 47 lives.

     If it happened today, the great Kaʻū earthquake would be one of the world's strongest earthquakes of this past year. Its size would also rival two of the most deadly events of the past decade: the magnitude-7.8 Nepal earthquake, which killed more than 8,000 people on April 25, 2015, and the magnitude-7.9 Sichuan, China, earthquake, which killed nearly 90,000 people on May 12, 2008. Because the Island of Hawaiʻi was sparsely populated in 1868, the loss of life from the Kaʻū earthquake was limited.

     In Hawaiʻi, the most destructive earthquakes occur along a gently sloping fault between the base of the volcanoes and the ancient ocean floor on which they are built. This fault, located at a depth of approximately 11 km (7 mi), is known geologically as a décollement, from the French word "décoller," which means "to detach from."

Left: This cross-section through the south part of the Island of Hawaiʻi illustrates the hypocenter of the 1868 great Kaʻū earthquake (red star), located
 on the décollement (bold black line) between Mauna Loa (brown) and the ancient ocean floor (tan). Earth's lithospheric mantle and the ocean are 
represented in green and blue, respectively. Right: The striped pattern on this map of Hawaiʻi Island indicates the areas of Mauna Loa and Kīlauea
that must have moved along the décollement to produce the magnitude-7.9 Kaʻū earthquake in 1868. Red lines depict the rift zones on Mauna 
Loa (left) and Kīlauea (right). The approximate epicenter of the earthquake is shown as a yellow dot, and the direction of slip along the 
décollement is shown with black arrows. Graphics are modified from Max Wyss, Bulletin of the Seismological Society of America, 1988

     A large part of the Island of Hawaiʻi moved during the 1868 event. Based on measurements of how much the earth moved during Hawaiʻi's magnitude-7.7 Kalapana earthquake in 1975, which also occurred on the décollement, the entire island south and east of Mauna Loa's summit and rift zones moved seaward and subsided several yards during the great earthquake.

     The 1868 Kaʻū earthquake was part of a larger volcanic crisis that unfolded over 16 days. On March 27, an eruption quietly began in Mokuʻāweoweo, the caldera at the summit of Mauna Loa. Seismic activity increased through the day, and by the afternoon of March 28, a magnitude-7.0 earthquake occurred in Kaʻū, which caused extensive damage from its own very strong to violent shaking.

     During the following four days, nearly continuous ground shaking was reported in Kaʻū and South Kona. Earthquakes continued at rates of 50 to 300 per day, including a magnitude-6.0 each day, leading up to April 2, when the great Kaʻū earthquake, 15 times stronger than the magnitude-7.0 foreshock, occurred at 4 p.m. A severe aftershock occurred on April 4, and aftershocks of decreasing magnitudes continued for decades.

     The Great Kaʻū Earthquake unlocked Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone, and on April 7, 1868, an eruptive fissure opened low on the mountain, just above today's Highway 11 and east of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. This eruption and the lava flows it produced will be the focus of next week's Volcano Watch.

     Though scientists do not know how often events as large as the great Kaʻū earthquake occur, they do know that, in Hawai‘i, active volcanoes drive the stresses that generate the largest earthquakes. Mauna Loa's hazards, therefore, include eruptions, as well as large earthquakes along the décollement in Kaʻū and South Kona - for example, the magnitude-6.9 earthquake that occurred near Captain Cook in 1951.

     Because of this, Hawai'i Island residents are encouraged to be prepared for both volcanic eruptions and potentially damaging earthquakes.

     Visit HVO'swebsite for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at kaucalendar.com

/janfebmar/februaryevents.html. See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, 

weekly events at kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/februarycommunity.html.

February 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

Girls Softball: Monday, Apr 2, @ Kohala

   Saturday, Apr 7, Hawai‘i Prep @ Ka‘ū

   Monday, Apr 9, @ Pāhoa

   Wednesday, Apr 11 @ KSH

   Saturday, Apr 14, Kea‘au @ Ka‘ū

Boys Volleyball: Tuesday, Apr 3, @ Waiakea

   Wednesday, Apr 11, Kea‘au @ Ka‘ū

   Friday, Apr 13, Honoka‘a @ Ka‘ū

   Monday, Apr 16, @ Hilo

   Friday, Apr 20, Parker @ Ka‘ū

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SUNDAY, APRIL 1
EASTER BRUCH, Sun, Apr 1, 7 a.m. to noon. Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Main entrees: Ham, Beef Pot Roast, and Breakfast Veggie Stir Fry. No reservations required. $17/Adult, $9.50/Child (6-11 yrs). KMC is open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

EASTER EGG HUNT, Sun, Apr 1, 9 a.m., ‘Ōhi‘a Room, Kīlauea Military Camp, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Open to keiki 10 years and under. Registration accepted from 7:30 - 8:45 a.m. Bring a basket. KMC is open to all authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Pre-register children: 967-8352, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

FOURTH ANNUAL KA‘Ū COMMUNITY EASTER EGG HUNT, Sun, Apr 1, 1 - 3 p.m., Nā‘ālehu Community Park. Over 6,000 candy filled eggs, over 300 prizes. Free chili & rice bowls. Donations welcome. Free; open to all ages, infants to adults. Pam/Lance, 929-8137, Henri, 464-5042

MONDAY, APRIL 2

SLOGAN/MOTTO CONTEST - Pāhala Public & School Library, continues through Mon, Apr 2. Submit ideas to Nā‘ālehu or Pāhala Library. $55 grand prize awarded on Fri, Apr 13. Friends of Ka‘ū Libraries President Sandra Demouruelle, naalehutheatre@yahoo.com, 929-9244

EASTER EGG HUNT, Mon, Apr 2, noon, Flyin' Hawaiian Coffee, CU Hawai‘i lawn, Nā‘ālehu. Judy Knapp, 640-4712

OCEAN VIEW VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING, Mon, Apr 2, 4 - 6 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, APRIL 3
SPECIAL MERRIE MONARCH FESTIVAL EVENTS, Tue, Wed, Thu, Apr 3, 4 & 5, 11 - 1 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Honoring 55th Merrie Monarch Hula Festival. Hawaiian cultural demonstrations, live music. Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes' ‘Ike Hana No‘eau "Experience the Skillful Work" workshops. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETINGS & TRAININGS, Tue, Apr 3 & 24, 4 - 6 p.m., Apr 17, 4:30 - 6:30 p.m., Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

KAʻŪ COFFEE GROWERS MEETING, Tue, Apr 3, 6 - 8 p.m., Pāhala Community Center.

HOW THE PACIFIC TSUNAMI WARNING CENTER WORKS, Tue, Apr 3, 7 p.m., Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Dr. Nathan Becker, Senior Oceanographer describes PTWC operations. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 4
AdvoCATS, Wed, Apr 4, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283

Open Mic Night, Wed, Apr 4, 6 - 10 p.m., Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Singers, Bands, Comedians, etc. Call 967-8365 after 4 p.m. to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years and older. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

THURSDAY, APRIL 5
Veteran's Center & VA Medical Services, Apr 5 & 19, Thu, 8:30 - noon, Ocean View Community Center. No appointment needed to visit w/ VA counselor & benefit specialist. Matthew, 329-0574, ovcahi.org


Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, Apr 5, 6 - 7 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, APRIL 7
Ocean View C.E.R.T. Training, Sat, Apr 7, 14, 21 & 28, 8:15 - 5 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. Hawai’i County Civil Defense Agency Community Emergency Response Team training. Free, limited seating, open to public. Bill Hanson, 937-2181. Pre-register online, certkau.eventbrite.com

Stewardship at the Summit, Apr 7, 13, 21 (fee-free day), & 27, 8:45 a.m., meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native, plant species. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

Hi‘iaka & Pele, Sat, Apr 7, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Discover the Hawaiian goddesses and the natural phenomena they represent on this free, moderate, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO

Hawai‘i Democratic Pre-Convention Meeting, Sat, Apr 7, 11 - 3 p.m., Waimea Elementary School cafeteria. hawaiidemocrats.org

ONGOING

ONE COMMUNITY AND ONE PARENT REPRESENTATIVE are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. Nominations will be accepted from April 2 through April 16 at 3 p.m. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee.

     The campaign for the positions starts April 16. Voting is April 30 through May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

TŪTŪ AND ME OFFERS HOME VISITS to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 646-9634.

VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY PRESENTS HO’OKU’I I NĀ KIKO, Connecting the Dots, by Natalie Mahina Jensen and Lucia Tarall. "A curated collection of photographs, paintings, sculptures, and feather work items deliver a sublime message, connecting the viewer artistically with the provenance of the design." Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., from Saturday, Mar. 31, to Sunday, May 6. volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222

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