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Sunday, May 06, 2018

Ka‘ū News Brief Sunday, May 6, 2018

The origin of some of the vog drifting across Kaʻū is in Leilani Estates in lower Puna where at least ten fissures opened with
smoke and lava, destroying 26 homes. At least one Leilani resident is being sheltered in Pāhala.
Photo from Big Island Video News
HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK reopened Sunday at 3 p.m., following a sequence of large, violent earthquakes that prompted a two-day closure and evacuation of park visitors and staff last Friday. “Our primary objective is the safety of employees, park partners and visitors,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “The limited opening allows us to respond to new volcanic and seismic events should they occur and the closures that remain are necessary to keep people out of dangerous and unassessed areas. Visitors should expect changing conditions and be prepared for unannounced closures,” she said.
     Kīlaeua Military Camp and Volcano House accommodations, restaurants, and other concessions remain closed Sunday. Volcano House is expected to return to full operation on Tuesday morning. Final inspections of propane lines and other insurance-directed inspections are scheduled for completion tomorrow. The Volcano House staff is expected to back on property beginning noon on Monday for opening preparations.
With each large earthquake, ground shaking causes additional collapse
 within the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater,  sending a plume of reddish-brown
 ash skyward. The size and vigor of a plume depends on the size of the 
earthquake and subsequent collapse. This roiling ash plume followed
 the magnitude-6.9 earthquake on May 4. Much of the rock within t
he crater is rust in color, which is a result of heavy alteration by acidic
volcanic gases. When the rock is pulverized by a collapse event, 

the resulting ash plume is pink to reddish-brown ash plume. 
USGS photo by T. Neal
     Park staff members are still assessing trails, roads and buildings in the park, and thus far,  have reported minimal damage.
     Several rock slides were triggered by the 6.9-magnitude earthquake, that struck Friday at 12:32 p.m., and a slew of aftershocks and smaller earthquakes that preceded it. The USGS reported more than 500 earthquakes in and around Kīlauea Volcano since Friday afternoon. Smaller temblors continued today.
     The following areas in the park are open: 
·    The Entrance Station from Highway 11 to Jaggar Museum is open from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Jaggar Museum will close at 8 p.m. (the outdoor overlook will remain open until 10 p.m.)
·    Kīlauea Visitor Center is open from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
·    Sulphur Banks Trail
·    Steam Vents parking lot
·    Crater Rim Trail is open from Kīlauea Overlook to Jaggar Museum only
·    The Entrance Station to the 1969 lava flow near Mauna Ulu
·    Mauna Ulu to Pu‘uhuluhulu (Nāpau Trail is closed past Pu‘uhuluhulu)
·    Escape Road from Highway 11 to Mauna Ulu
·    Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 to the Mauna Loa Lookout and Kīpukapuaulu
     Any area in the park not listed here is closed, including most trails, Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Kīlauea Iki, Devastation Trail and Pu‘u Pua‘i, and Chain of Craters Road past Mauna Ulu.
     Due to the hazardous and unpredictable ash plume coming from Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent, there is a Temporary Flight Restriction above the vent. Aircraft (including drones) are not permitted in the TFR, which extends 3,000 feet above ground level and a two-mile radius from the vent. Relief aircraft on official flights approved by the National Park Service are the only aircraft allowed in the area. 

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HAZE ACROSS KAʻŪ IS A DARK REMINDER that at least 26 homes were destroyed by lava and fire in Leilani Estates in lower Puna. The vog drifting across the south end of the island comes from the volcanic fumes from Leilani, Puʻu ʻŌʻō, and Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Depending on which way the wind blows, the bad air is reaching Hilo or Kaʻu and onto Kona.
Lava chugs down a Leilani Estates Road today. USGS photo
     With more fissures opening and lava shooting as high as 230 feet, active venting of lava and hazardous fumes continue to pose a major threat to homes and health.
    Today, Civil Defense allowed Leilani Estates residents with property between Highway 130 and Maile Street to complete evacuation of pets, medicine, and vital documents until 6 p.m. Residents were required to provide identification and proof of residency.
     Lee Hillis, who is staying at her sister's home in Pāhala, hoping that her house will survive, said Leilani reported long lines today with people waiting to go in and come out of the neighborhood, one car at a time.
     A primary Police checkpoint is at Highway 130 and 132. A secondary checkpoint is at Highway 130 and Leilani Street. “Residents should retrieve their items expeditiously so others may go in after them. Be aware of the very unstable conditions of air quality and of the roads. You will be required to leave the area if conditions become hazardous. Leilani residents entering must be on the alert for elevated levels of Sulfur Dioxide, wildfire, and volcanic eruption. People with respiratory problems are especially vulnerable. Please, the residents of Leilani need your help by staying out of the area. This is not the time for sightseeing,” states the update.
     No access is allowed at this time for residents of Lanipuna Gardens due to dangerous volcanic gases. An interactive map of fissures can be seen here.
   
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RECENT EARTHQUAKES HAVE CAUSED LITTLE STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IN KAʻŪ; however, residents reported several effects since Friday's 6.9 and 5.4 quakes.
     Beachgoers at Punaluʻu, where tsunamis destroyed homes in the past, feared a tsunami when the ocean visibly receded after the 6.9 quake on Friday. However, the sea rose by only a few inches.
Brown water below the Honuʻapo slope indicates an earthen slide
caused by one of the recent earthquakes. Photo by Shalan Crysdale
     Evidence of an earthen slide could be seen from the famous Honuʻapo lookout over Whittington Beach Park. The quakes also triggered landslides within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Roads displayed cracks within the park and on Hwy 11.
     The lava lake in Halemaʻumaʻu crater has dropped more than 500 feet since April 30. It dramatically changed the view from Jagaar Museum, leaving no bubbling, birthing, shimmering red lava lake of Madame Pele to photograph. The floor beneath the lava lake fell away leaving a gaping, smoking dark hole.
     The number of small earthquakes has increased at Kīlauea summit since the 6.9 quake. During the past 24 hours, as of 7 p.m. today, there were 174.
     
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Kīlauea's summit eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu did not initially respond to the volcano's East 
Rift Zone activity (collapse of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor and magmatic intrusion into
 the rift zone) on April 30.  But on May 2, the lava lake level began to drop in concert with summit 
deflation, suggesting that magma was moving from the summit into the East Rift Zone. 
By Friday, May 4, when this photo was taken, the lava lake level had dropped
 85 m (279 ft). The lake continues to drop. Lava that spilled from the lake and onto
 the floor of Halemaʻumaʻu during April 21-27 formed the dark-colored flows that can be

 seen on either side of the lava lake. USGS photo by J.Babb
THE WEEKLY VOLCANO WATCH COLUMN by the U.S.G.S. scientists came out late this week as the crew focused on the monitoring for major earthquakes and eruptions. The scientists wrote:
     “Little did we know that Friday would be even more hectic:
     How it began: Following a collapse of the Puʻu ʻŌʻō crater floor on Monday, April 30, an intrusion of magma migrated down Kīlauea's East Rift Zone, advancing below ground toward Highway 130 and communities in the lower Puna District on the Island of Hawaiʻi. The possibility that the intrusion would lead to an eruption of lava became more likely as numerous small earthquakes shook the area over the next few days.
     On Thursday, May 3, it happened. With little fanfare, steaming ground cracks were soon spewing lava in Leilani Estates.
    By Friday morning, three additional fissures had opened in the subdivision, with lava traveling less than a few tens of meters (yards) from the vents.
     Then, Kīlauea really started rocking and rolling. It began with a magnitude-5.4 earthquake at 11:32 a.m. HST. An hour later, a magnitude-6.9 earthquake, the strongest quake to strike Hawaiʻi since 1975, rattled residents across the island and beyond, with felt reports from as far away as Kauaʻi. Over the next 24 hours, more than 500 earthquakes - 13 with magnitudes of 4 or greater - shook the island.
Over 500 earthquakes were located by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) between 
noon Friday and noon Saturday, May 4-5. A magnitude-6.9 earthquake at 12:32 p.m. HST on 
Friday was preceded by two foreshocks with magnitudes of 5.4 and 4.4  at 11:32 a.m. 
and 11:38 a.m., respectively, and followed by eight aftershocks with magnitudes 
greater than 4.0, including a magnitude-5.3 at 2:37 p.m.  Moderate to strong aftershocks
should be expected for weeks to months to come. The earthquakes are related to the ongoing 
intrusion into Kīlauea's East Rift Zone and reflect adjustments beneath the south
 flank of the volcano. USGS map
     In the meantime, the summit of Kīlauea switched from inflation to deflation, and in concert with that deflation, the summit lava lake level began to drop.
     Volcano Activity Updates
     This past week, Kīlauea Volcano's summit lava lake level dropped with summit deflation, and was about 160 m (525 ft) below the vent rim as of May 5 at 9:30 p.m. HST. On the East Rift Zone, the 61g lava flow is no longer active. Episode 62 commenced on Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone on May 3, with at least 10 fissures (as of May 6) opening within the Leilani Estates subdivision in the lower Puna
District. Both eruptions, summit and East Rift Zone, are dynamic, and additional changes will be reported on HVO's website at https://volcanoes.usgs.
gov/volcanoes/kilauea/status.html.
    Visit HVO's website https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo 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.

 
Kaʻū Sunshine. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
Rising Sun. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
Monarch. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
THE TENTH ANNUAL KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL WEEK WRAPPED UP TODAY with educational presentations at Pāhala Community Center. Yesterday's annual Hoʻolauleʻa brought family farmers to show off the many individual brands of Kaʻū Coffee, with coffee tasting and purchasing opportunities for the thousands of people who attended the festival. See more coverage of the Kaʻū Coffee Festival in upcoming Kaʻū News Briefs.

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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.
MONDAY, MAY 7
Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Monday, May 7 & 21, 1 p.m., Ocean View Community Center. A parent led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, May 7, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Community Meeting with State Senatorial Candidate Brenda Ford, Mon, May 7, 6-9pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free; donations from $1 to $1,000 accepted.

TUESDAY, MAY 8
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, May 8 (Committees)/9 (Council), Kona; Mon/Wed, May 21 (Committees)/23 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nā‘ālehu, Tue, May 8, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, and participate in training scenarios. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

Return to Abundance: A Vision for Healthy Oceans, Tue, May 8, 7pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kēhau Springer describes how Conservation International Hawai‘i works collaboratively to revitalize pono (responsible) Hawaiian fishing values and practices. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

WEDNESDAY, MAY 9
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, May 9 (Council), Kona; Mon/Wed, May 21 (Committees)/23 (Council), Hilo. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

THURSDAY, MAY 10
Disability Legal Services, Thu, May 10, 9:30-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Provided by Paula Boyer of Big Island Disability. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com


Ka‘ū Scenic Byway Dedication Ceremony, Thursday, May 10, at 2:00 p.m., Manuka State Wayside. Light refreshments will be served.

Papa ‘Olelo Hawai‘i: Beginning Hawaiian Language Classes, Thu, May 10, Part II, 5-6:30pm, Part V, 6:30-8pm, Volcano Art Center. 8 week courses. Hawaiian language experience preferred (basic for part II). $80/VAC Member, $90/non-Member. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org, or call 967-8222

Volcano School of Arts and Sciences Middle School Theater Night Spring Show, Thu, May 10, 6pm, Kīlauea Military Camp, Kīlauea Theater. VSAS 6th, 7th and 8th graders each perform a one-act play. Free admission; donations accepted.

FRIDAY, MAY 11
Mother's Day Card - Arts & Crafts, Fri, May 11, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 6 to 12. Register May 7-11. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat, May 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, MAY 12
Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants w/ Zach Mermel, Sat, May 12, 9-noon, Volcano Arts Center. Hands-on workshop. Class fee $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member. Register online volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, May 12, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. nps.gov/HAVO

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, May 12, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com or 430-3058.

Maker Fair Spring Spree, Sat, May 12, 10-4pm, The Cooper CenterVolcano Village. Mother's Day weekend. All-handcrafted artisan shopping market from local makers. Free shopping tote to first 50 adult shoppers. Free make-and-take project booths. Keiki scavenger hunt. Free professional Mother's Day photo taken by Spark Productions. Details and artisan applications online, makerfair.org. Sara Krosch, contactmakerfair@gmail.com, 520-389-0620, facebook.com/MakerFair. Free to attend.

Zentangle: Fine Feather-Like Friends w/Lydia Meneses, Sat, May 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center. Create tiles with feather-like forms. Open to all levels, no experience necessary. Bring snack to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest Concert, Sat, May 12, 4:30pm & 7pm, Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Django Hot Club of Volcano and French Cafe Jazz. Tickets available online, $18/VAC Member, $20/non-Member. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, Daily, May 12-Jun 24, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Public opening reception on May 12, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, MAY 13
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, May 13 & 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

Mother's Day Buffet, Sun, May 13, 5-8pm, Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Main entrees include Prime Rib, Lemon Butter Fish with Tropical Salsa and Vegetable Stir Fry with Tofu. $29/Adult, $14.50/Child (6-11 yrs). Open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Reservations required. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

NEW & UPCOMING
Learn how to make feather lei and watch as acclaimed artist
Kilohana Domingo demonstrates. Event details at left.
Photo by Janice Wei, National Park Service
WITNESS THE FINE SKILL REQUIRED TO MAKE LEI HULU, feather lei, on Wednesday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, announces Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Acclaimed artist Kilohana Domingo demonstrates his mastery of this intricate art on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai. His feather lei are highly sought to adorn pāpale (hats) and other uses.
     Part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes’ ‘Ike Hana No‘eau Experience the Skillful Work workshops. Free; however, park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

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Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, Daily, May 12-Jun 24, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Public opening reception on May 12, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org

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.

Summer Fun - Registration, May 7-10, Nā‘ālehu Community Center. For grades K-6. $40 per child. $50 portion of registration fee funded by Councilwoman Maile David. Program runs Mon-Fri, Jun 12-Jul 20, 8-2pm. Richard Karasuda, 939-2510. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

ONGOING
Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool Fundraiser runs through Wednesday, May 9. Support the Partners In Development Foundation programs in Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala, for keiki ages birth to 5 years, by purchasing tickets for a 15 oz. bag of Maebo Noodle Factory’s famous One-Ton chips for $12 each. Contact the Ka‘ū office, located in Nā‘ālehu, at 929-8571.

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.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. 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. 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.

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.