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Sunday, July 09, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, July 9, 2023


Kaʻū High School football players helping the 'Ohana Flag Football program are left to right
back row Baron Marinovich and Keyson Pagan; Ocean Sesson kneels front right. Photo by Mark Peters
THE NEW KEIKI 'OHANA FLAG FOOTBALL PROGRAM drew more than 30 players on Saturday to
'Ohana Flag Football Coach Todd Marinovich
and Coach Jerry Nwosuocha lead the keiki.
Photo by Mark Peters
Pāhala Ballpark. Kaʻū High Trojan football players Baron Marinovich, Keyson Pagan and Ocean Sesson assisted Coaches Todd Marinovich, Jerry Nwosuocha and Mark Peterson to mentor the younger and older keiki squads. 
     Head Coach Todd Marinovich is a former University of Southern California quarterback and LA Raiders quarterback who moved his home to Kaʻū. The program is free. 
    Marinovich said the idea is for keiki to play flag football without pads and helmets. Head injuries are prevented as flag football has no tackling. He said young people should not put on helmets and pads until high school.
      New players, ages 6-12, are welcome to join in from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. each Saturday. Next week on July 15, the practice moves to Nāʻālehu Ballpark. The program continues through Aug. 5.
    For more information, contact Todd Marinovich at 510-387-5669.
     
Kaikala Grace makes a move with the ball
in Flag Football. Photo by Mark Peters
Imogen Ortega and Matea Ridgely joined 'Ohana
Flag Football. Photo by Joy Marie Ridgel
y
YOUNG WAHINE HAVE SIGNED UP FOR 'OHANA FLAG FOOTBALL. The Ka'u Calendar intern Joy Marie Ridgely, age 13, sent in the following piece regarding the view of  participating families with young ladies in Flag Football:
    "For fifty-one years Title IX has enabled female athlete participation nationwide. Despite being monumental for the women’s rights movement, Title IX is surrounded by an abundance of controversy. However, Pāhala tells a different story. Instead of tiptoeing around each other's differences, Pāhala doesn’t seem to even notice them. 
    "An example of this can be seen in the local football camp run by the former NFL player Todd Marinovich. In addition to adding depth to Pāhala’s high school football team, this program welcomes children of all genders. Imogen Ortega and Matea Ridgely, ages five and six, participated for the first time this last Saturday, and will continue to do so at Nāʻālehu Ballpark for the remaining two weeks of the program."
     'Ohana Flag Football next Saturday, July 15 will be 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. at Nāʻālehu Ballpark. It wraps up on Saturday, Aug. 5, also at Nāʻālehu Ballpark.


'Ohana Football players with Coaches Mark Peters left, Todd Marinovich Center and Jerry Nwosuocha.
Photo by Joy Marie Ridgely
'Ohana Flag Football, no tackling.
Photo by Mark Peters
CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ACTIVE VOLCANOES is holding its annual summer International Training Course in Volcano Hazards Monitoring. This year is the 30th course since its inception in 1990 after a three-year hiatus due to the COVID pandemic. The training course is a product of the partnership between the University of Hawai'i at Hilo, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and USGS Volcano Disaster Assistance Program.
    The program is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, the weekly column from USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. It is authored by Center for the Study of Active Volcanoes staff Darcy Bevens and Meghann Decker: Participants are scientists and technicians working at volcano observatories in developing countries with active volcanoes that threaten populated areas. This year, our twelve participants have traveled to Hawaii from the Philippines, Indonesia, Peru, Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. Andrea Aguillar, ageophysicist from Chile, said, "After 3 years of waiting I'm finally here, directly from Coyhaique from Chilean Patagonia, happy to learn from the instructors and my colleagues...Everything I learn here will be useful for what we do as a country and without a doubt this experience will be the most enriching that I will have in my training as a professional and it will be worth being away from my son for so many weeks."
  The eight-week course begins on the Island of Hawai'i, where participants learn techniques HVO uses to monitor shield volcanoes and the hazards associated with Hawaiian-style eruptions.
  According to Juan José Idárraga, a geologist in Colombia, "CSAV international course is the best experience that every volcanologist wants to have. I've been waiting for the course for some years and it is absolutely worth it. We have seen and learned amazing things just in a week. This course gives us the opportunity to learn from the best scientists and in the best natural laboratory: Hawaiian Volcanoes."
    The CSAV International Training Course provides an invaluable natural laboratory for studying volcanic eruptions due to the frequent activity on Kīlauea. Dave Rivera, a research specialist from the Philippines says, "Three years in the making and finally we're here. It was definitely worth the wait to finally see the famous Hawaiian Volcanoes we only see in textbooks, plus a warm welcome by Pele."
    The timing for the course was perfect because three days into the program, a spectacular eruption within Halemaʻumaʻu crater began. CSAV International participants were able to examine the eruption safely from Uēkahuna bluff, where they viewed the distant lava lake and fountains within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park during the first day of the eruption. The group had been anticipating the eruption 
after observing increased seismic activity on Kīlauea. Most participants work on volcanoes that can generally erupt more explosively tha volcanoes in Hawai'i. So, after six weeks of hands-on field and lab work in Hawaii, the group travels to the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory to spend two weeks working with VDAP. There they will conduct field work to observe geologic hazards such as fast-moving lahars (mud/debris flows) and pyroclastic flows associated with more explosive volcanoes such as Mount St. Helens. Wahyu Kusuma, a volcano observer from Indonesia, says a "Big thanks for all of the best instructors. In my few days here, I learn so much." Besides learning from highly dedicated course instructors, CSAV participants also learn from one another and build invaluable connections with other scientists.
    Many challenges exist in volcano hazard monitoring, as no two volcanoes or eruptions are identical. CSAV International participants return home not only familiar with modern monitoring techniques but also with a network of scientific experts and contacts at partner organizations to communicate and share ideas about eruption forecasting and hazard mitigation. You can read more about the CSAV International course here: https://hilo.hawaii.edu/csav/international/.
Color photograph of scientists and eruption
On June 7, 2023, the first day of Kīlauea's most recent eruption, CSAV International Training Course participants visited Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park to observe the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake. These participants are scientists and technicians who work at volcano observatories in the Philippines, Indonesia, Peru, Chile, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Colombia, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. CSAV training is a product of the partnership between the University of Hawai'i and the USGS. CSAV training in Hawai'i emphasizes volcano monitoring methods, both data collection and interpretation, in use by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. UH Hilo photo.  

VOLCANO ACTIVITY UPDATES: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Active lava has not been visible within Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea since June 19. Earthquake activity in the summit region has been low over the past week. Summit tiltmeters showed gradual inflation for much of the past week. A sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate of approximately 135 tonnes per day was measured on June 30.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Seismicity remains low. Summit ground deformation rates indicate slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the recent eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
    There were three earthquakes with three or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands for the week ending last Wednesday: a M3.0 earthquake 12 km (7 mi) SSW of Honoka'a at 36 km (22 mi) depth on July 4 at 4:27 a.m. HST, a M3.0 earthquake 3 km (1 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 35 km (21 mi) depth on July 3 at 10:32 a.m. HST, and a M3.4 earthquake 15 km (9 mi) S of Pa'auilo at 18 km (11 mi) depth on June 30 at 2:23 p.m. HST.
    HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
 
The Kaʻū Roping & Riding Rodeo wrapped up Sunday with events for adults and keiki.
Photo by Dee Peters
THE WINNERS OF THE TWO-DAY KAʻŪ ROPING & RIDING RODEO this Saturday and Sunday have been announced.
     In the keiki class, Dummy Roping Buckle Winner in the four and under category is Ella Mae Jose.             Dummy Roping Buckle Winner in the five to eight category is Whip Sevens. 
Leaning into the barrels. Photo by Joy Marie Ridgely

     Goat Undecorating Buckle Winner, four and under, is Ella Mae Jose. 
     Goat Undecorating Buckle Winner, five to eight, is Chiono Ramos.
     The Calf Riding Buckle Winner is Hunter Derago. 
     Po'owai U Buckle Winner is  Bronson Branco.  
     Youth Barrels winner is Hilai Karratti. 
     Youth Breakaway Buckle Winner  Hilai Karratti
     Century Team Roping Buckle Winners are Alan Hanoa and Warren Hanoa. 
     Open Dally Roping Buckle Winners are Ethan Awa and Colton Kehano. 
     Kane Wahine Dally Roping Winners are Macey Loando and Bronson Bronco. 
     Kane Wahine Ribbon Mugging Buckle Winners are Macey Loando and Bronson Bronco. 
     Double Mugging Buckle Winners are Micah Ching and Kama Kalanikoa.
     Wahine Mugging Buckle Winners are Makayla Awa and Katie Andrade.
    Kane Wahine Breakaway Winners are Damien Flores and Rasha Karratti.
    See more photos and details in Monday's Kaʻū News Briefs.
CALLING ON ALL KAʻŪ HIGH & VOLCANO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES FOOTBALL PLAYERS. The coaching staff reports that practice begins on Monday, July 24 at Kaʻū High in Pāhala. The coaches will present a preseason potluck at Punalu'u Beach Park on Sunday, July 23 from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. With questions and to RSVP, call or text Mark Peters at 510-387-5669.












































Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, July 8, 2023

Rodeo in Nā'ālehu continues through late afternoon, Sunday, with events for paniolo of all ages as well as food and other booths. Photo by Eva Liu
Rodeo Queen ShaniaLee Silva reigns over two days of events
 through Sunday at the Rodeo Grounds in Nā'ālehu.
Photo by Joy Marie Ridgely

THE RODEO IS ON in Nā'ālehu with events for all ages wrapping up on Sunday and presentation of the buckles to the winners by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association. See photos below:

A 3.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE RUMBLED WITH CRACKLING NOISES 2.5 miles southwest of Pāhala toward Punalu'u at 2:10 p.m. on Saturday. It was 6.5 miles deep, shallower than many recent earthquakes in the Pāhala swarm, most of them about 19 to 20 miles deep.

HAWAI'I GOOD FOOD ALLIANCE is hiring a full-time administrative assistant. This is a remote working position for a Hawaiʻi resident.                          Responsibilities include organizing, managing, and coordinating duties to support and facilitate HGFA day-to-day operations and communications. Deadline for application is July 12, 2023. Applicants are encouraged to apply through the Indeed posting https://www.indeed.com/job/administrative-assistant-58kyear-hawaii-residents-only-4bc16f487cbb6313 or send resumes and cover letters to Tanner Keys at tanner@hawaiigoodfoodalliance.org

HAWAI'I LAND TRUST IS HIRING A DIRECTOR OF LAND ACQUISITIONS. to lead related projects over lands with natural, cultural, agricultural, or other value to Hawaiʻi and its communities.      

Rodeo Princess Shaelia Freitas is in opening ceremonies 
of the rodeo Saturday and Sunday. She is joined  by rodeo
contestant Ramses Santiago. Photo by Marlene Freita
s

    "Hawai'i Land Trust protects the lands that sustain Hawaiʻi and teaches future generations to do the same," says a statement from the organization. The position will be involved in all parts of acquisitions, including working with communities and landowners, identifying and scoping opportunities, fundraising, negotiating, due diligence, and completing legal processes to close transactions. If the candidate is an attorney licensed in Hawaiʻi, the position may be expanded to also serve as in-house counsel. More information on the position and how to apply can be found at https://static1.squarespace.com/static/60ac5bb9eb895759b833a61d/t/6462ab59dbbd2d009cb9c756/1684187994492/HILT+DIRECTOR+OF+LAND+ACQUISITIONS.pdf

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

THE NEW MAHI'AI AGRICULTURAL LOAN PROGRAM is seeking applicants through Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Native Hawaiian Revolving Loan Fund program. In addition to low interest rates, new borrowers have the option of deferring their loan payments for the first six months without incurring additional interest. For more information on the Mahi 'Ai Agricultural Loan Program, visit https://loans.oha.org/mahiai-agricultural-loan, email NHRLF@ohaloanfund.org, or call the OHA office in East Hawai'i (Hilo) at (808) 933-3106 or West Hawai'i (Kona) at (808) 327-9525.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at kaucalendar.com, in the mail and on stands.

Roping events are major at the Independence Day Rodeo ongoing Saturday, July 8 and 9 at Na'alehu Rodeo Grounds.
Admission $10. Photo by Eva Liu
Out of the chute at Nā'ālehu Rodeo Grounds during Saturday and Sunday's competition sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding.
Photo by Joy Marie Ridgely
All proceeds go to the rodeo at this booth sponsored by Black Sand Beach, LLC, with volunteer keiki Enzo, Chloe, 
Dylan and Connor, as well as Zach Hou squeezing lemons for lemonade. Offerings also included honey, Punalu'u logo
 tee shirts, water bottles and stickers as well as headbands with animals on them. Photo by Eva Liu

WAYNE KNAPSTAD OF VOLCANO IS MISSING. Hawai’i Island police are asking for the public’s

Wayne Knapstad
assistance in locating 68-year-old Wayne Knapstad of Volcano who was reported as missing. He is considered endangered due to his age.
    Knapstad was last seen on Monday, July 3, 2023 at 2:30 p.m. in the Volcano area. He is described as having a light complexion, 5 feet 8 inches tall, approximately 155 pounds, balding with white hair, white goatee, and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, a blue jacket, and a black baseball cap.
    Police ask anyone who may have information on Knapstad’s whereabouts to contact the Hawai’i Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311.
    Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the island wide Crime Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

CALLING ON ALL KAʻŪ HIGH & VOLCANO SCHOOL OF THE ARTS & SCIENCES FOOTBALL PLAYERS. The coaching staff reports that practice begins on Monday, July 24 at Kaʻū High in Pāhala. The coaches will present a preseason potluck at Punalu'u Beach Park on Sunday, July 23 from 1 p.m to 4 p.m. With questions and to RSVP, call or text Mark Peters at 510-387-5669.