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| Explosive eruptions continue at the summit of Kīlauea Volcano today. This image was taken yesterday by Andrew Richard Hara on a flight with Paradise Helicopters. See the story below. See Andrew Richard Hara's website, Facebook, and Instagram. |
LAVA IS ON THE PROPERTY OF THE PUNA GEOTHERMAL VENTURE PLANT, Pacific Business News reported this afternoon. A flow from fissure 22 moved toward the well pad and apparently stalled about 100 meters from the grounds.
In the meantime PGV, county, state, and federal partners are attempting to reduce the risk of explosions, should lava penetrate the geothermal wells. They have poured cold water into the geothermal wells and are close to completing their attempt to kill the last well and cap it.
Hawaiʻi News Now reported at 6 p.m. that PGV representatives said that one well, hotter than usual, apparently under pressure from the approaching lava, is proving troublesome in the attempt to kill it. An alternative approach using mud instead of water to cool and kill it is being attempted, the news report stated.
Tom Travis, chief of state Emergency Management, said that he "should know soon if efforts are successful to neutralize KS 134, the last 'active' well." Said Travis, "We have quenched 10 of 11 wells and we are pumping fluid to plug the last well as we speak.
“Should have an idea whether or not that’s successful tonight. Once that step is taken, we will be in a much more solid state for having lava overflow the site. This is important, because I think, as all of you know, lava is starting to intrude on the southern edge of Puna Geothermal Venture site. It’s not easy to predict where it’s going to go or when it’s going to get there."
See the press conference on Puna Geothermal covered by Big Island Video News.
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LAVA BOAT TOURS ARE STARTING UP along the lower Puna coast as lava pours into the ocean. Kalapanalavaboat.com is advertising trips on its U.S. Coast Guard certified 49-foot catamaran called Hotspot, saying it sold out today's tours. The website says: "Lava flows have reached the ocean and our lava boat tours are now scheduled twice daily, both at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively." The trips embark to the left of the Suisan Fish Market hoist in Hilo.
The Coast Guard will allow already permitted boats to sail offshore of the lava going into the ocean near MacKinzie State Park where two lava lobes are flowing into the Pacific.
The website says, "With all the devastation, heartbreak and loss the current lava flow is causing here on the Big Island...the powerful earth's core still is the most amazing thing you could ever witness in person. We see it everywhere on video and the media every day over and again, but it will never compare to putting your digital device down and witnessing the amazing path of Tutu Pele in person.
"Although we have opened up our booking schedule, we ask that you please continue to respect incident personnel working hard and the residents who have been displaced and have lost their livelihood due to the Kīlauea Volcanoes destructive path."
The website says passengers must be in good health with no recent injuries, no back injuries, and not currently pregnant. See www.kalapanalavaboat.com.
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REPORTERS AND SOLDIERS SCURRIED AWAY from a lava spattering
explosion on Sunday, as County Managing Director Will Okabe gave an
interview to news cameraman Daryl Lee. The interview was held in front of one of the two massive lava flows, 200 yards wide and 20 feet tall, that crossed Highway 137 in lower Puna.
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| Lava approaching Puna Geothermal Ventures. Image from Tropical Visions Video and Paradise Heliocopters |
Tom Travis, chief of state Emergency Management, said that he "should know soon if efforts are successful to neutralize KS 134, the last 'active' well." Said Travis, "We have quenched 10 of 11 wells and we are pumping fluid to plug the last well as we speak.
“Should have an idea whether or not that’s successful tonight. Once that step is taken, we will be in a much more solid state for having lava overflow the site. This is important, because I think, as all of you know, lava is starting to intrude on the southern edge of Puna Geothermal Venture site. It’s not easy to predict where it’s going to go or when it’s going to get there."
See the press conference on Puna Geothermal covered by Big Island Video News.
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.
LAVA BOAT TOURS ARE STARTING UP along the lower Puna coast as lava pours into the ocean. Kalapanalavaboat.com is advertising trips on its U.S. Coast Guard certified 49-foot catamaran called Hotspot, saying it sold out today's tours. The website says: "Lava flows have reached the ocean and our lava boat tours are now scheduled twice daily, both at 4 a.m. and 4 p.m. respectively." The trips embark to the left of the Suisan Fish Market hoist in Hilo.
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| Kalapana Lava Boat photo from days when the flow was farther from people's houses. Photo from kalapanalavaboat.com |
The website says, "With all the devastation, heartbreak and loss the current lava flow is causing here on the Big Island...the powerful earth's core still is the most amazing thing you could ever witness in person. We see it everywhere on video and the media every day over and again, but it will never compare to putting your digital device down and witnessing the amazing path of Tutu Pele in person.
"Although we have opened up our booking schedule, we ask that you please continue to respect incident personnel working hard and the residents who have been displaced and have lost their livelihood due to the Kīlauea Volcanoes destructive path."
The website says passengers must be in good health with no recent injuries, no back injuries, and not currently pregnant. See www.kalapanalavaboat.com.
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.
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| County Managing Director Will Okabe was being interviewed Sunday as reporters and military rushed toward him from spattering lava. Photo from Big Island Video News |
As Okabe
went on camera to warn to the public to stay away from the area, an explosion sounded and military and
press ran toward him. "It's exploding right now. It is definitely a
hazard," said Okobe.
Okabe told Lee and Big Island Video News that Kalapana
people still have access to evacuate on Highway 130. “But they need to
really pay attention to what’s happening because anything can happen. Madame
Pele can come out at any time,” Okabe said, “but we don’t want to cause panic.
We want them to just be well informed, that’s it.”
See the
interview on bigislandvideonews.com.
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| May 21 update of flows from fissures in Lower Puna. See below for current, as of 8 a.m. today, fissure activity. USGS map |
Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense warned today that "residents and visitors in lower Puna, south of the Lower East Rift Zone, should be prepared to leave the area with little to no notice due to gas or lava inundation. Take action necessary to prepare ahead of time. Gas levels remain high. Take actions to limit further exposure."
One of the institutions in the path of the lava is Kua O Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School, which began moving all of its equipment from its campus today, with help from the county and with Civil Defense predicting that lava flow could reach it within a few days.
Civil Defense also stated, "Due to unsafe conditions on roadways, the following policies are in effect: Kalapana and Kapoho Roads are open to residents only. Identification is required. Highway 137 is closed to all traffic between Kamaili Road and Pohoiki Road. Kamaili Road is closed to all thru traffic. No stopping, this is a high sulfur dioxide area. Everyone is asked to stay out of the area."
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| Fountaining from fissure 22 yesterday. For scale, under the tall tree on the left stand two people - one in orange, one in blue. USGS photo |
"Due to the lava entry at the ocean, the following policies are in effect: Access to the area is prohibited due to the laze hazard. Stay away from any ocean plume since it can change direction without warning. The U.S. Coast Guard is actively monitoring the ocean entry area and enforcing a 300 meter standoff zone. Only permitted tour boats are allowed in the area."
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| One of the first reports of an explosion at Kīlauea Crater can be seen on Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's Eletronic Tilt graph, showing today's at around 1800 hours and others over the last two weeks. HVO graph |
At
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“DO NOT BE NEAR” LAZE is the best way to avoid health
impact from the particles and gasses generated from lava flowing into the ocean, stated Dr. Alvin Bronstein, of the state Department of Health, during a
press conference today. Bronstein stated the danger is influenced primarily
by the amount and makeup of lava going into the ocean, and the direction of
wind. Laze is a health risk in air for particles and sulfuric acid, he said;
once particles are on the ground, exposure risk is minimal.
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| "It is easy to see the activity on Hawaii’s #Kilauea Volcano from @Space_Station. We hope those in the vicinity of the eruption can stay out of harm’s way," Tweeted astronaut A. J. (Drew) Feustel @Astro-Feustal from the International Space Station on Sunday, May 13. |
Janet Babb of
USGS warned today of a new danger: methane explosions from lava or fire
reaching pockets of decayed vegetation, which can happen further away from lava
flow than expected.
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TWELVE DAYS OF HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK CLOSURE - plus earlier, shorter closures this year - have cost the island millions of dollars in lost revenues, according to figures presented by HVNP spokesperson Jessica Ferracane.
The economic impact on the local community is “quite significant,” said Ferracane, noting that HVNP is the number one attraction in the state, drawing more than two million visitors a year, spending $166 million in 2017. The cumulative benefit to the local economy was estimated at $222 million in 2017, the park reported.
Two thirds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes closed on the evening of May 10 due to risk from volcanic activity and it is unknown when it will be safe enough to reopen. It was also closed May 4 through 6 during Kīlauea eruptions. From Jan 20-22, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks were closed until Congress funded the federal government.
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| This morning's overflight of Kīlauea Volcano’s Lower East Rift Zone shows lava flowing around a kipuka (an "island" of land surrounded by younger lava flows) before entering the ocean. The ocean entry is producing a laze plume. Photo from USGS/Carolyn Parcheta |
Two thirds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes closed on the evening of May 10 due to risk from volcanic activity and it is unknown when it will be safe enough to reopen. It was also closed May 4 through 6 during Kīlauea eruptions. From Jan 20-22, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks were closed until Congress funded the federal government.
Ferracane stated
the last long closure of the park was in October of 2015 during a federal government shutdown, which
lasted 16 days.
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HAWAI‘I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY HAS ANNOUNCED CONTINGENCY PLANS to restore electricity to
communities in lower Puna that may be cut off by lava flows. Options include diesel and solar battery generators.With lava
moving more quickly over the past few days, Hawaiian Electric Light engineers are identifying suitable locations.
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| Burning power lines in Lower Puna. Photo from hawaiielectric.com |
In addition to possibly employing large
capacity diesel generators and portable solar-battery-generator
units, the utility is considering the use of steel poles strong enough to support wires able to span
lava flows and temporarily connect to undamaged distribution lines.
Hawai‘i Electric
Light has created a page on its website “for the latest information for
customers affected by the eruption and for those who may have questions about
billing and service during the emergency” at https://www.hawaiielectriclight.com/lava.
Updates also are available on the company’s Twitter - @HIElectricLight - and
Facebook - HawaiianElectric - accounts.
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AIR QUALITY INDEX AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF FREQUENT ASH PLUMES from Halemaʻumaʻu as of 4 p.m. today in Pāhala is good at 21, Ocean View is moderate at 74, and Kona is moderate, nearing unhealthy for sensitive groups, at 90. AQI measures particulate matter, as well as gasses.
SO2 measurements were good for most of today, with Ocean View measuring at 0.03 and Pāhala at 0.01 at 4:30 p.m. Pāhala had a spike of moderate levels around 8 a.m., up to 0.19, back down to good range by 930 a.m.
See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see theUniversity of Hawaiʻi
SO2 measurements were good for most of today, with Ocean View measuring at 0.03 and Pāhala at 0.01 at 4:30 p.m. Pāhala had a spike of moderate levels around 8 a.m., up to 0.19, back down to good range by 930 a.m.
See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see the
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| See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment.
Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes
throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
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AUDITIONS FOR KĪLAUEA DRAMA & ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK’S SUMMER MUSICAL OLIVER will be held at the
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TUESDAY, MAY 22
Hawai‘i County Special Reading 9-4:30pm , Hilo
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, May 22, 3 p.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910
MOVED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Auditions for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainments Musical "Oliver," Tue & Wed, May 22 & 23, 6:30pm,Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
HOVE Road Maintenance Monthly Meeting, Tue, May 22, 3 p.m., RMC Office in Ocean View. hoveroad.com, 929-9910
MOVED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Auditions for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainments Musical "Oliver," Tue & Wed, May 22 & 23, 6:30pm,
Craft Night at Mokupāpapa Discovery Center, Wed., May 23, 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Sessions every half hour until 6 p.m. at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center. This month will be glazing a custom clay ornament of a tiger shark. Sharks worldwide are threatened, and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument provides one of the last sanctuaries for these majestic animals. Coral reefs depend upon a healthy shark population. Sign up early due to a limited supply of ornaments. Cost is $12 per ornament. Pre-register and prepay at Kīlauea Pottery, phone 731-6614 or visit them at 46 Waianuenue Ave. Contact Clayton.Watkins@noaa.gov or call (808) 933-8184.
MOVED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Auditions for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainments Musical "Oliver," Tue & Wed, May 22 & 23, 6:30pm,Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
THURSDAY, MAY 24
FRIDAY, MAY 25
SATURDAY, MAY 26
Flameworking - An Introductory Class, Sat & Sun, May 26 & 27, 2-5pm, Volcano Art Center. Glasswork using torch or lamp to melt glass. $155/VAC Member, $160/non-Member, plus $40 supply fee/person. Advanced registration required; limited to 4 adults. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
SUNDAY, MAY 27
MONDAY, MAY 28
MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Memorial Day Buffet, Mon, May 28, 4-7pm, Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Campy, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Menu includes BBQ Kalua Pork, Local Styles Fried Chicken with Gravy, Salads and more. $19/Adult, $10/Child (6-11 yrs). Open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com
NEW & UPCOMINGMOVED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Auditions for Kīlauea Drama & Entertainments Musical "Oliver," Tue & Wed, May 22 & 23, 6:30pm,
VA Medical Services, Thursdays, May 24 & 31, 8:30-noon, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, May 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu, May 24, 12:30-1:30 p.m., Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us
Coffee Talk, Fri, May 25, 9:30-11am , Kahuku Park Volcanoes National Park
Memorial Day Lei - Arts & Crafts, Fri, May 25, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For all ages. Register May 21-25. Free. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
SATURDAY, MAY 26
HIDEM's Hawai‘i State Convention, Sat & Sun, May 26 & 27, Hilton Waikoloa. hawaiidemocrats.org
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, May 26, 9:30-11:30am , Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
SUNDAY, MAY 27
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, 27, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and many forms of ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/HAVO
MONDAY, MAY 28
MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Memorial Day Ceremony, Mon, May 28, 3pm , Kīlauea Military Camp front lawn, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
HAWAI’I WILDLIFE FUND HOSTS TWO UPCOMING KA‘Ū VOLUNTEER DAYS, with the first beach clean-up opportunity taking place on Tuesday, June 5, with Hawai’i Outdoor Institute. The second beach clean-up opportunity takes place on Saturday, July 7, at Leipana/Pā‘ula, which is located below Nā‘ālehu.
Space is limited, email kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com for time to meet up at Wai‘ōhinu Park. Free; however, donations are appreciated. Visit wildhawaii.org for more about Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund.
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Park Rangers invite the public to downtown Hilo to learn about the volcanic activity, to get their NPS Passport Book stamped, and to experience the Hawaiian cultural connection to volcanoes. Rangers are providing programs at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center at 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Tuesday through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
Hawai‘i Island Quilting Artists are called to register by Saturday, May 26, for Volcano Art Center's 2nd Bi-Annual Quilt Show: Quilts in the Forest - Where the Path May Lead. Entry forms available online at volcanoartcenter.org/gallery/call-to-artists. Exhibition open Friday, July 13, to Friday, August 3, at Volcano Art Center's Niaulani campus, 19-4074 Old Volcano Road, Volcano Village. Contact Fia Mattice at 967-8222 or quiltshow2018@volcanoartcenter.org.
Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.
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 464-9634.
St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.
5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m. ; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Mon, July 9: 5K, $25/person; 10K, $35/person; and 1/2 Marathon , $45/person. From July 9 to Aug 11: $30/person, $40/person, and $45/person, respectively. From Aug 13 to Sept 20: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.
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