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Friday, August 24, 2018

Ka`ū News Briefs Friday, August 24, 2018

Pa`au`au Gluch, flooding this evening, seen from the bridge at Pāhala on Hwy 11. Photo by Julia Neal
LANE LANDED ITS LAST PUNCHES ON KA`Ū with flooding rains this evening. Waters roared down Pa`aj`au Gulch from Wood Valley past Pāhala and under the Hwy 11 bridge, as a once Category 5 Hurricane Lane drifted north, downgraded to a tropical storm. Floodwaters threatened Hwy 11 at Kāwā Flats and rainfall engorged gulches making for sketchy driving along Ka`alaiki Road on the mountain between Pāhala and Nā`ālehu.
     Some of Lane's last blows were hours of power outages Thursday night in Ocean View, along with hefty winds during the day and evening.
Radar of rainfall at 6:15 p.m. Image from prh.noaa.gov/cphc
     Aikane Coffee Plantation, on Ka`alaiki Road, reported 5.35 inches of rain yesterday. National Weather Service gauges at 1:45 p.m. today showed rain over the last 24 hours totaling 5.53" at Kapāpala, 3.98" at Pāhala, 3.11" at Nene Cabin, and .45" at Kahuku Ranch. More rain was expected this evening and Civil Defense sent out a flash flood warning alarm to cell phones. See prh.noaa.gov/data/HFO/RRAHFO for rainfall updates.
     Tropical storm conditions -- with heavy rain, high surf and winds, and accompanying flooding, landslides, and other damage -- are expected to continue for portions of Hawai`i Island through tomorrow. The windward side accumulated 30 inches of rain in some places, as of Friday afternoon.   
      Lane lost power swiftly today, downgraded from a Category 3 hurricane in 24 hours. The storm almost stalled offshore, crawling north and northwest at 2 and 3 miles per hour, according to Central Pacific Hurricane Center. Lane is expected to break down and become weak enough for trade winds to push it west at a fast pace, south of Kaua`i and out of Hawaiian waters, this weekend. However, heavy rain and flooding remain a threat statewide.
 Forecast movement of Tropical Storm Lane as of 5 p.m. 
Image from prh.noaa.gov/cphc
     As of 5 p.m., Lane was 178 miles northwest of South Point, with 70 mph winds.
     Hawai`i Electric Light Co. announced that about 9,500 Hawai`i Island residents lost power in the last day -- most often to heavy rains and fallen trees -- with most power restored.
     Civil Defense reports all County Parks remain closed until further notice with pavilion and camping permits cancelled. All state Department of Land & Natural Resources outdoor recreation areas and reserves are closed. Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park announced it will open its Kahuku Unit on Saturday.
     County transfer stations and landfills will resume normal operations starting tomorrow.
Satellite imagery of Lane at 5:30 p.m. Image from prh.noaa.gov/cphc
     Hawai`i state Department of Health advises the public to stay out of streams, coastal, and standing waters that are contaminated by storm water. "Storm water may contain harmful micro-organisms from overflowing cesspools or septic tanks as well as animal waste washed into streams and storm drains," and several areas are experiencing overflow from the amount of rain.
      Visit the Civil Defense website for the most up to date road closures.

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KĪLAUEA'S GAS RELEASE HISTORY, of Voggy Skies from Days Gone By, is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
        Many Island of Hawai`i residents are familiar with the volcanic air pollution known as "vog." The main culprit in the formation of vog is sulfur dioxide gas -- SO2 -- released from Kīlauea's eruptions; see vog.ivhhn.org/what-vog for more information.
Fissure 8, in mid-July, was emitting more than 50,000 tons of sulfur 
dioxide gas per day, creating high levels of vog on the Island. 
USGS photo by T. Elias
     Vog watchers may have noticed significant changes in air quality on the island since early May, when Kīlauea's extraordinary lower East Rift Zone eruption began. Revisiting how much SO2 has been released from Kīlauea over the past decades helps us understand the island's current vog situation.
     Since the amount and location of SO2 release from Kīlauea has changed over time, the concentration and distribution of vog on the island has also changed. Some residents may recollect clear skies in leeward Hawai'i prior to 1986. During that period, Kīlauea's summit was the focus of gas release, emitting just a few hundred tons of SO2 each day, which primarily impacted areas near the volcano's summit.
     In 1983, Kīlauea's East Rift Zone eruption at Pu`u `Ō`ō began with episodic high lava fountains. During the fountaining, large amounts of SO2 gas -- up to 30,000 tons -- were released over a period of about a day, but only about once a month. Prevailing trade winds cleared the air between episodes.
LAZE from the oozing of lava into the ocean on Aug. 17. Gas
emissions are much lower than they were in July. USGS photo
     A few years later, the volcanic activity abruptly changed to nearly continuous eruption of lava and gas, with about 2,000 tons of SO2 released daily. The continuous gas release provided little opportunity for the air to clear, and vog became a common feature for leeward Hawai`i, where the trade winds blew the emissions.
     In 2008, SO2 emissions from Kīlauea, and vog on the island, increased significantly with the opening of the summit crater within Halema`uma`u, which hosted a lava lake for the next decade.
     During the past several years, summit SO2 emissions averaged about 5,000 tons per day, while Pu`u `Ō`ō emissions progressively declined to less than a few hundred tons per day. The total gas release from Kīlauea in recent years -- until early May -- was around 2.5 times those measured prior to 2008.
     In May, significant changes in gas release accompanied the collapse events at Kīlauea's summit and the LERZ eruption. These changes were even greater in magnitude than past changes.
Clearer air over Kīlauea summit on Aug. 17. USGS photo
     At the summit, ash-rich explosions in May produced SO2 emissions that peaked near 10,000 tons per day. Since then, as summit activity evolved into less explosive collapse events, SO2 emission rates have steadily declined. The latest measurements indicate that summit emissions are now only a few hundred tons per day, a rollback to pre-2008 summit emission rates.
     At Pu`u `Ō`ō, SO2 emissions have rarely risen above a few hundred tons per day since May, a situation that continues as of this writing.  
 Kīlauea's summit lava lake. But as lava effusion became more focused at Fissure 8, LERZ SO2 emission rates progressively increased.
    Along the LERZ, the 24 fissures that erupted lava in and near Leilani Estates released massive amounts of SO2. Emissions in early May were similar to the long-term average emissions from
     By early June, LERZ measurements indicated emission rates upward of 50,000 tons per day. These high levels persisted until early August. Sustained release of SO2 at such a high magnitude is unprecedented in Kīlauea's history of SO2 emission rate measurements, which began in the late 1970s.
Fissure 8 on Aug. 21, crusted over with little gas emmissions. USGS photo
     When lava output from Fissure 8 suddenly declined in early August, SO2 emission rates dropped precipitously as well. Emissions on August 3 indicated tens of thousands of tons of SO2 coming from the Fissure 8 vent, but just two days later, the emission rate was only around 200 tons per day. Since then, SO2 has further declined.
     With the LERZ emitting less than 100 tons per day, and Pu`u `Ō`ō and the summit each emitting only a few hundred tons per day, the current SO2 emissions from all Kīlauea sources total well under 1,000 tons per day. This is the lowest overall SO2 emission rate in over a decade.
     Low SO2 emissions mean better air quality for Hawai`i. While it's not yet clear if the LERZ eruption is pau (finished) or paused, it's worth taking a deep breath and enjoying the lowest SO2 emission rates from Kīlauea in a long time.
     No earthquakes were reported felt in Hawai`i this past week.  
     Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa monthly updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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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
KA`Ū TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE
Football:
CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE: Sat, Aug 25, 10am, Scrimmage @ Waiakea
   Thu, Sept 6, 6pm, @ Pāhoa
   Sat, Sept 15, 1pm, @ Kohala
   Sat, Sept 22, 3:30pm, host Lanai @ Kea`au
Girls Volleyball:
   Wed, Aug 29, 6pm, @ Hilo
   Fri, Aug 31, Kamehameha Tourney
   Sat, Sept 1, Kamehameha Tourney
   Wed, Sept 5, 6pm, host Pāhoa
   Wed, Sept 12, 6pm, @ Christian Liberty
   Fri, Sept 14, @ Kamehameha
   Mon, Sept 17, 6pm, host Lapahoehoe
   Wed, Sept 19, 6pm, host Kohala
   Thu, Sept 20, 6pm, @ Honoka`a
   Tue, Sept 25, 6pm, @ HPA
   Fri, Sept 28, 6pm, host KonaCross Country:
CANCELLED DUE TO HURRICANE: Sat, Aug 25, @ CLA (preseason)
   Sat, Sept 1, 10am, @ HPA
   Sat, Sept 8, 10am, @ Kamehameha
   Sat, Sept 15, 10am, Kea`au
   Sat, Sept 22, 9am, @ HPA

NEW and UPCOMING
LEARN VARIOUS STYLES OF LEI-MAKING THIS SEPTEMBER WITH RANGERS in free cultural demonstrations and activities provided through the `Ike Hana No `Eau program series at Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Saturdays. The program is supported by Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association. Each session, beginning at 12:30 p.m. on Saturdays, is expected to last about an hour. Those interested are asked to meet at the Visitor Contact Station.
Make Haku Lei with natural materials on September 15 with rangers. See more at left.
Photo from National Park Service
     September 1, rangers invite park guests to make tī leaf lei by twisting (wili). September 8, park guests learn to make lei from yarn. September 15, park guests are welcome to make Haku Lei using natural materials. September 22, rangers cover making an eyelash lei. September 29, guests are invited to sew flower lei.
     Kahuku Unit of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park does not charge entrance fees. Find the entrance to the Kahuku Unit of the park located south of the 70.5 mile marker, mauka (mountain side) of Highway 11. For more about this and other Kahuku Unit programs, visit nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

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SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
Zentangle: Basics and Beyond with Lydia Meneses, Sat, Aug 25, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Zentangle Basics kit provided. $30/Volcano Art Center Member, $35/non-Member, $10 supply fee. Bring light refreshment to share.

Waiho`olu`u Ola Indigo Dyeing Workshop, Sat, Aug 25, 12:30-3:30pm, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Learn traditional methods of banding and folding in traditional and modern shibori styles to create patterns, and explore the alchemy of indigo, a plant derived dye. $50/Volcano Art Center Member, $55/non-Member, plus $25 supply fee. No experience necessary. Space limited. Pre-registration required: volcanoartcenter.org or 967-8222.

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, Aug 26, 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. Free. nps.gov/HAVO


TUESDAY, AUGUST 28
HOVE Road Maintenance Corp. Meeting, Tue, Aug 28, 10am, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean Viewhoveroad.com, 929-9910, gm@hoveroad.com

Ka`ū Food Pantry, Tue, Aug 28, 11:30-1pm, St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, Aug 29, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years & older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai`i; referral required from Hawai`i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org
THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
Ka`ū Community Children's Council, Thu, Aug 30, 12:30-1:30pm, 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, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visit, Thu, Aug 30, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Medical services offered last Thursday of every month. Dental to be announced. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center June newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu, Aug 30, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
Coffee Talk, Fri, Aug 31, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Park, Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park. NPS Law Enforcement Rangers talk story about Mitigating Disaster in National Parks. Ka`ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Miloli`i Classic -- Classic Fishing Tournament Series, information meeting 5:30pm, Fri, Aug 31, Kalanihale pavilion, Miloli`i. Fishing tourney Saturday and Sunday, Sep 1 and 2. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli`i. $200 entry fee, 4 per boat; $25 additional. Cash prizes for Flag Fish: Marlin, Ahi, Mahimahi, Ono, Aku. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Hawai`i Wildlife Fund Kamilo Beach Mini-Clean-up with visiting Debris Poet Allison Cobb, Sat, Sep 1, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai`ōhinu Park. Limited space available in HWF rides. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Stained Glass Basics w/Lois Pollock, Sat and Sun, Sep 1, 2, 8, and 9. 9-noon at Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Students complete the 4-session workshop with finished light-catcher and basic skills to continue working with stained glass. $90/VAC member, $100/non-member, $15 supply fee. Advanced registration required. Class size limited. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat, Sep 1, 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

Keiki Science Class, Sat, Sep 1, 11-noon, Ace Hardware Stores islandwide, including Nā`ālehu, 929-9030, and Ocean View, 929-7315). Free. First Sat every month. acehardware.com

ONGOING
5th Annual Volcano Winery Harvest Festival tickets on sale for event on Sun, Sept 9, and selling fast! Benefit for Volcano School of Arts and Sciences. Music, food, wine, and raffle. $40/adult (21+), $20 under 21. 967-7772, volcanowinery.com

5th Annual Ka`ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145, Fees: 5K, $35/person; 10K, $45/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $55/person. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka`ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: `O Ka`ū Kākou, okaukakou.org.

Activities at Kahuku Park -- within Hawaiian Ocean View Estates -- over the next two months, include two physical activities, three arts and crafts activities, and a Park Beautification Day.
     For ages 6 to 12:
     - Jump Rope Challenge: Mon, Aug 27, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open through Aug 25.
     - Sand Art: Wed, Sept 5, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open Aug 27 through 31.
     For all ages:
     - Friendship Bracelets: Wed, Sept 19, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open Sept 10 through 14.
     - Park Beautification Day: Fri, Sept 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Registration open Sept 19 through 26.
     All activities are free to attend. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit the park during business hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Free Arts and Crafts Activities at Pāhala Comunity Center happen on Wednesdays in September, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through the end of Sept, for keiki in Kindergarten through 8th grade.
     - Sept 5: In observance of Grandparents Day, Craft Stick Puzzle Hanging. Register Aug 30 through Sept 4.
     - Sept 12: Dove Foldable For Peace. Register Sept 4 through 11.
     - Sept 19: Handprint Tree Art. Register Sept 13 through 18.
     - Sept 26: Beaded Wind Chime. Register Sept 19 through 25.
     For more, call 928-3102 or visit the community center during business hours: Mon-Thu and Sat, from noon to 8 p.m., or Fri, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation/.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool's Temporary Nā`ālehu Location is Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ōhinu. Meeting days and times remain the same: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to those with keiki zero to five years old, to aid with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Free. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.
     To enroll in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 464-9634. Questions: Clark at 929-8571 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for Sat community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

Ocean View Vet Center Visits Suspended until further notice. Veterans, call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Harmony Educational Services, Home Based Educational Programs - Open Enrollment through Oct 15; harmonyed.com/hawaii. Partnered with four local public charter schools, Harmony offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can also contact Rayna Williams at rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.

Disaster Recovery Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Pāhoa Neighborhood Center at 15-3022 Kauhale St. See information applicants need to bring, or register online, at fema.gov/disaster/4366. If you are a survivor who has left the area, call 800-621-3362. Salvation Army distribution center at Pāhoa Community Center on Tue, Thu, and Sat, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To donate, contact 756-0306.

Find Your Park, invites Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park, to kama`aina and tourist alike. Experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Ka`ū to Volcano to Hilo, while the partial closure of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park continues.
     Free of charge, with no entry fees, rangers offer new and familiar programs at Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.
Kahuku Unit
     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.
     Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
     Guided Hikes on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Can't make a guided hike but want to get to know Kahuku better? The Friends of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park will tailor a customized trek just for you. Contact Friends through their website. Proceeds support Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.
     Coffee Talk, held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station. Dr. Frank Bonaccorsoreveals "A Day in the Life of `Ōpe`ape`a - the Hawaiian Hoary Bat," and shares a 24-hour cycle of the only land mammal native to Hawai`i on Fri., Aug. 31.
     Ranger Talks introduce the natural, cultural and historic attributes of Kahuku on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
     `Ike Hana No`eau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.
     Picnic in the Park: Join Kahuku for Hawaiian music and hula. Bring a picnic lunch or opt to buy lunch from food trucks on this family-friendly day. Supported by the Friends of Hawai`i VolcanoesNational Park. Sun., Sept. 16, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus
     Find Park Rangers in Volcano Village daily, at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. Rangers are there 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.
     After Dark Near the Park at the Volcano Art Center's Ni`aulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.
Mokupāpapa Discovery Center
     Find Park Rangers in downtown Hilo, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., they give a talk about all five of Hawai`i Island's volcanoes, including Kīlauea. Get NPS Passport Books stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.
Prince Kūhio Plaza
     Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partner, Hawai`i Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.
Grand Naniloa Hotel
     Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo on Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rangers provide eruption updates at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The park film that is normally available to visitors at Kīlauea Visitor Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, is shown every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.
     Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at `Imiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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