Ka‘ū News Briefs Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Lava approaches the Puna Geothermal Ventures facility. See story below. Image from Hawai`i County Civil Defense

KAʻŪ HIGH & PĀHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL'S ASH SITUATION made statewide media reports today, with Hawaiʻi News Now interviewing Principal Sharon Beck. The reporter described the volcanic ash on rooftops, cars, and the ground throughout the town, and said she could smell sulfur and that her eyes burned as she visited the campus.
     An explosive eruption rocked Halemaʻumaʻu in Kīlauea Volcano at 3:45 this morning, the plume reaching a height of 8,000 feet. The ash came into Kaʻū on light winds throughout the day. County Civil Defense warned: "Take action to avoid exposure to ash."

Kaʻū High students used the golden shovels in 2012 for the groundbreaking
of the new Kaʻū District Gym, which hosts high school sports. It also
serves at a regional Disaster Shelter and may be used for sheltering
against ashfall. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie

     Hawaiʻi News Now reported that 22 to 48 percent of the 500 students did not come to the Pāhala campus in the last few days. The principal described the absence as attributed to "difficulty breathing, watery eyes, just not feeling well." Beck said that everyone responds differently to the situation. Students are issued N95 ash masks and pediatric masks for protection.
     The principal said the school is considering online options to keep children who stay home on ash days in the educational mode. The long-term response depends on how long the volcanic ash explosions last.
     According to the principal, the groundskeeping schedule for the large campus in Pāhala has been changed to avoid mowing and throwing up ash that could drift into classrooms when students are there. Most of the classrooms are without air conditioning.

Kaʻū District Gym & shelter at its grand opening on Oct. 5,
2016. Photo by Ron Johnson

     The Pāhala District Gym, which is adjacent to the school campus and holds more than 1,000 people, is unequipped with air conditioning and air cleaning.
     Adjacent to the gym is an activity room with air cleaning and air conditioning. It holds 225 people. The population of Pāhala is about 1,450.
     The Pāhala District Gym and disaster shelter was funded to be the regional disaster shelter for the much larger population of Kaʻū. To build it was a campaign of the late Kaʻū state Rep. Robert Herkes.
     In recent days, the windows of the big gym have been closed to keep air clean. County Department of Parks & Recreation workers said they are ready to open for the public any time, should Civil Defense give the word that ashfall is unmanageable for health in Kaʻū homes. The gym is also being prepared for Kaʻū High School's graduation this Friday.
     Hawaiʻi News Now also reported on Nāʻālehu School, saying that the ash is not as abundant but that the school has safe rooms for students.

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SO2 LEVELS HAVE BECOME A LARGER HAZARD IN PUNA, but less so up Kilauea Volcano at Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō and Halemaʻumaʻu, states Wendy Stovall of USGS. During a press conference today, she said the eruptions at the fissures in lower Puna are releasing 15,000 tons of SO2 per day. Stovall stated this is a “very high number,” being caused by a lot of fresh, more gas-filled magma coming to the surface. The numbers started to go up a couple days ago, and the higher emission rate coincided with the fresh lava flows - when the flows started heading to the coast – she said.

The fissure complex, pictured in the upper right, continues to feed a meandering lava flow, center. 
Lava in the easternmost lobe is entering the ocean, creating laze (white plume). USGS photo

     Past SO2 levels for the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō area were 200 to 300 tons per day. Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō is not releasing any SO2 now. Kīlauea summit was releasing 3,000 to 6,000 tons per day when Halema‘uma‘u's lava lake was filled. The summit is expelling a different makeup of gasses now, but no levels were available at press time.

     SO2 levels in Pāhala and Ocean View at 6:30 p.m. are good at 0.06 parts per million. Kona is seeing 0.02 ppm.
     Air Quality Index was down for all locations at press time.
     See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see the University of Hawaiʻi air quality prediction website at http://weather.hawaii.edu/vmap/hysplit/

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LAVA DESTROYED A FORMER GEOTHERMAL PROJECT FACILITY next to the current PGV geothermal wells in lower Puna today. County Civil Defense reported: "Fissures near Puna Geothermal Venture are active and producing lava slowly flowing onto the property. This activity has destroyed the former Hawaiʻi Geothermal Project site area adjacent to PGV. At this time this situation is being closely monitored. There is no immediate threat to any of the wells at PGV."

     Puna Geothermal officials said that none of the 11 wells have been capped but ten of them have been "quenched" with water. The 11th was treated with a mud material, similar to what is used in plugging oil wells. All of them are offline and not producing electricity.

The tiny Ocean View police substation is
up for a new lease with the county.
Photo by Ann Bosted

     During a press conference today, Gov. David Ige said he and his emergency team are confident that area residents are safe for now.

     Civil Defense also warns residents in lower Puna that they "should be prepared to leave the area with little notice due to gas or lava inundation. Take action necessary to prepare ahead of time."

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THE TINY POLICE OUTPOST IN OCEAN VIEW'S makai shopping center has received a lease renewal approval vote from the County Council's Finance Committee. The resolution, which goes to full council, would allow the administration to renew for five years with an option for another five. The owners are Ocean View Partners, LLC. It is located among the stores across from Malama Market. A number of initiatives from the Ocean View community have asked the county to provide a larger, fuller service police station.

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Residue pattern on a leaf of the perfume flower 

tree or pua kenikeni (Fragraea berteriana) from 

rain drops falling on the ash. Pattern was barely 

visible with naked eye. Taken with iPhone 

and macro lens by Edward H. Rau.

PHOTOMICROGRAPHS OF ASH FALLOUT from the explosive eruption at Kīlauea summit on May 14 were sent by a Discovery Harbour

Close up of ash sample collected in a vial of 

water from cars Parked in Pāhala and 

Discovery Harbour, then dried on a microscope 

slide. Photo by Edward H. Rau

resident to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes Observatory. Edward H. Rau, who operates a small bioresearch company in Kaʻū called Sustainable Bioresources, said HVO preliminarily reported that “the ash appeared to be predominantly plagioclase crystals, small bits of volcanic rock and glass, and altered (oxidized red) fragments of rock and iron and manganese bearing minerals. Plagioclase is a common feldspar mineral found in igneous rocks and it can be used for dating volcanic ash deposits.”

      Rau said that though Sustainable Bioresources "is located about 40 miles from the Kīlauea summit eruptions, we still have to be concerned about vog or ash induced damage to our plants. …I made some photomicrographs of the ash fallout on plants and other surfaces and sent the photos to HVO.”

     See the website at www.sustainablebioresources.com.

1) Close up of ash on ʻōhiʻa leaf. 2) Close up of ash deposit on pua kenikeni leaf, zoomed in. 3) Close up of ash deposit on pua kenikeni leaf. Dissecting microscope 4X objective, 10X ocular. 4) Close up of ash deposit on pua kenikeni leaf. Note crystal on lower right. Photos by Edward H. Rau

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PUBLIC HEALTH THREATS FROM VOLCANIC ACTIVITY OF KĪLAEUA VOLCANO are receiving analytical help from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest Region. The EPA is helping to analyze threats from volcanic gas emissions, including managing technical data and enhancing multi-agency air monitoring of the emissions. EPA’s work is part of the Federal Emergency Management Agency - the FEMA response to the Kīlauea volcanic eruption on Hawaiʻi Island.

     EPA worked with the state Department of Health to establish 10 additional air monitoring station locations and continues to work with DOH and the County of Hawaiʻi to additional locations to provide data on sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and particulate levels. A statement from the Agency will continue to evaluate data collected from the Air Now Network operated by the DOH. EPA has 16 personnel on Hawai`ʻi Island and one representative working with FEMA operations in Honolulu.
     For more information, visit the Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard which has comprehensive information and data related to vog and ash hazards and impact: https://vog.ivhhn.org.

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HAWAIʻI STATE TEACHER’S ASSOCIATION AND HAWAIʻI REGIONAL COUNCIL OF CARPENTERS ENDORSED SEN. JOSH GREEN this week in his bid for Lieutenant Governor. The senator has served Kaʻū and Kona since 2009. The groups endorsing him represent approximately 13,700 educators from public and charter schools, and about 6,500 carpenter members.

     During the announcement, the Regional Carpenter Union’s Executive Secretary and Treasurer Ron Taketa said that, though there are diverse candidates for the position during this election year, Green is the right candidate for the position. “We can wait no longer to address the human crisis confronting us: endemic homelessness, lack of affordable housing, traffic, healthcare – particularly for the elderly, and adequate finding and staffing for our schools,” which he stated would take legislative cooperation and leadership “from the top floor.” Taketa stated Green impressed him with his “ability to bring people together, to work to get things done.” Taketa said that Green’s “outstanding personal credentials and accomplishments as a physician, state representative, senator, community leader, and educator” were reason enough to support Green, but it was Green’s “unassuming local-style leadership” that impressed him the most.

Sen. Josh Green, who is running for Lieutenant Governor, with his family and
representatives from the Hawaiʻi State Teachers Association and Hawaiʻi
Regional Council of Carpenters, as they made an announcement
to endorse his candidacy. Photo from Dr. Green's Facebook

     Corey Rosenlee, President of HSTA, states HSTA “strongly supports” Green. Rosenlee said their reasons include his physician care of Hawaiʻi families; his relatives who are teachers – which gives him understanding of the problems teachers face; that he “deeply cares” about public education – which his children attend. Rosenlee said Green’s “promises to continue to fight” for higher teachers salaries, small class sizes, tax credit for teacher’s classroom expenses, and debt-free college. Rosenlee said Green is a “strong proponent” of more funding for public schools, believes in universal healthcare for “our keiki, guaranteed coverage of treatment for Hawaiʻi’s autistic children, stronger protections for victims of sexual assault, and new programs to reduce maternal mortality. He believes Hawaiʻi is a place where no family should have to live in poverty, or has to choose between buying food or buying medicine for a sick child. He knows that supporting strong, high-quality public schools is vital and benefits everyone. It’s for all of those reasons HSTA is pleased to recommend Dr. Josh Green for Lieutenant Governor.”
     Green practiced medicine at Kaʻū hospital and lived at Punaluʻu, when he first moved to Hawaiʻi to practice medicine.

     Watch the announcement on HSTA’s Facebook.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

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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WEDNESDAY, MAY 23

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's Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Parts for all ages and ability. 982-7344, kden73@aol.com

THURSDAY, MAY 24

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

FRIDAY, MAY 25

Coffee Talk, Fri, May 25, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

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. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture, and observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

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

‘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. Gathering to remember and pay tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Keynote Speaker: Major Kawika Hosea, Executive Officer of 1-299 Cavalry Regiment, Keaukaha Military Reservation. In case of rain, ceremony will move indoors. Open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8371, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

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

TUESDAY, MAY 29

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tue, May 29, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Saving Rare Plants from the Brink of Extinction in HVNP, Tue, May 29, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Park Botanist Sierra McDaniel discusses rare plant management in the park. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

NEW & UPCOMING

HAWAI‘I STATE PUBLIC LIBRARY SYSTEM ANNOUNCES SUMMER READING PROGRAM for 2018, Libraries Rock, which begins statewide and online Saturday, June 2, and continues through Saturday, July 14. Adults, teens, and children can register (starting June 2) and log reading minutes at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at their local library, such as Nā‘ālehu Public Library, Pāhala Public and School Library, and 49 others across the state. Participation is free.
     Participants receive reading rewards, with all 2018 participants entered for a chance to win a Roundtrip for Four anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
     "Help us to achieve our statewide community reading goal of 13 million minutes... You can earn more automatic entries into the lucky grand prize drawing by: reading more and then logging your minutes read on librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or the new Beanstack app. - reading books, ebooks, graphic novels, magazines, newspapers, and listening to audiobooks all count! Completing activities and then logging them on librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or the new Beanstack app.," states the event poster. The app is available on iOS and Android devices.
     The program is sponsored by the Friends of the Library of Hawai‘i and the 2018 Summer Reading Sponsors.

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ONGOING
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.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

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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