Wednesday, August 21, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Aug. 21, 2024


Lines and crowding at Hawai'i Volcanoes has led to recommendations to visit early and late. NPS Photo


WITH MUCH TRAFFIC AT HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK, the staff is recommending going there before 10 a.m. or after 2 p.m. "to soak in the sights without the selfie congestion." The Park also put out a call for park-inspired poetry on its facebook. Some of them included one from David Lee:
Cracks that led to closing a section of Chain of Craters Road.
NPS photo
 
In the lines they wait,
To see the fiery gate.
Those Jeeps ever queuing,
To await that fateful spewing.
We locals go in the dark,
To visit our amazing park

   In other developments, cracks on Chain of Craters Road that formed on July 21 between Hilina Pali Road intersection and the Maunaulu parking lot have widened due to continued seismic activity. Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park has temporarily closed the road to more thoroughly assess the damage.
    The closure begins at the intersection of Crater Rim Drive East and Chain of Craters Road, at the Devastation Trail parking area, and continues to the coast.
    The road remains open to bicycles and pedestrians. Kulanaokuaiki Campground is accessible only by biking or walking in.
    "The park will continue to monitor Chain of Craters Road and will reopen it to vehicles when it is safe to do so," says the statement from the Park. Visitors are urged to plan ahead and check the park website for any closure or hazard alerts at www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes.
      U.S. Geological Survey reports that recent Upper East Rift Zone unrest, including a swarm of earthquakes, "may represent another pulse of magma being supplied to the UERZ, following the intrusive event that occurred near Pauahi Crater over July 22–25, 2024. Currently, the MERZ has not shown signs of increased unrest; however, magma has recently re-established a path to Kīlauea’s MERZ. Unrest could potentially extend to the MERZ with continued magma supply." USGS released this map showing uplift and subsidence of the terrain between Aug. 7 and 19.


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Trojans in the home season opener 
last week against Waiakea.
Photo by Kamamalu Kauwe
KAʻŪ LADIES VOLLEYBALL BEAT KEA'AU HIGH SCHOOL on Tuesday, 3-1 on the road. The scores were 25-13, 23-25, 25-16 and 27-25. Trojans host Christian Liberty on Thursday, Aug. 22. Kaʻū is on the road to Ka Umeke on Wednesday, Aug. 28 and again to the Kamehameha Tournament, which runs from Thursday, Aug. 29 through Saturday, Aug. 31. LCPCS/SIS comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 3. and Pahoa comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Sept. 11. Trojans go on the road to Waiakea on Friday, Sept. 13 and again to Kamehameha on Tuesday, Sept. 17. Hilo comes to Kaʻū on Thursday, Sept. 19. Kea'au comes to Kaʻū on Tuesday, Sept. 24. Kaʻū travels to Christian Liberty on Saturday, Sept. 28 and again to LCPCS/SIS on Monday, Sept. 30. Ka Umeke comes to Kaʻū on Saturday, Oct. 5. 
    Kaʻū travels to Hilo on Saturday, Oct. 12 and again to Pahoa on Monday, Oct. 13. Kamehameha comes to Kaʻū on Wednesday, Oct. 16, followed by Big Island Interscholastic Federation playoffs.

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JEANNE KAPELA HAS WON THE ENDORSEMENT OF UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I PROFESSIONAL ASSEMBLY. The member of the state House of Representative for all of Ka'u and into Puna and South Kona, Kapela responded to the union endorsement. "So proud to be endorsed by the University of Hawai’i Professional Assembly in my race for re-election. I’m committed to making the dream of higher education affordable for all. Cost should never be a barrier to the pursuit of a college degree." Kapela won the recent primary election and is at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week.

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INTERNSHIPS SPONSORED BY FRIENDS OF THE KAʻŪ  LIBRARIES are available to three Kaʻū High School students. Interns will work with FKL board members and community volunteers who have expertise in internet research, creating spreadsheets, non-profit tax basics, marketing, graphic design, writing operations manuals, delivering periodic reports, and sitting on community boards. "FKL is looking for interns who will show up to meetings on time, meet deadlines, communicate well with all team members, be responsible, be willing to learn, and be willing to teach, that is, collaborate and share ideas and knowledge with the team," says a statement from the organization.
    Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable and educational corporation whose purpose is to support the Pāhala Public & School Library and the Nāʻālehu Public Library to improve library services and resources. Most of FKL's revenue comes from sales of donated books at both libraries and the Farmers' Market in Nāʻālehu. The organization seeks to increase revenue, including money from book sales. 
    Interns will help to build a website and conduct online meetings, conduct fundraising campaigns, research monetary worth of potentially valuable books; create systems for tracking donations and inventory; market the books; and develop training materials for future researchers. There will be some monetary compensation for interns. To apply, contact friendsofthekaulibraries@gmail.com; (808) 854-1018.






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THE DISTURBANCE SOME 1100 MILES EAST-SOUTHEAST OF HILO shows an increase in shower and thunderstorm activity Wednesday night. Central Pacific Hurricane Center reported at 8 p.m.:
    "Shower and thunderstorm activity has gradually increased tonight in association with an area of low pressure located well east-southeast of the Hawaiian Islands. A slight improvement in organization could result in the formation of a tropical depression or tropical storm on Thursday while it moves generally westward at 10 to 15 mph. This system is expected to move into the central Pacific basin early Thursday morning, where it is then forecast to strengthen during the next couple of days and move near the Hawaiian Islands late this weekend or early next week.
    "Interests in Hawai'i should closely monitor this disturbance, though it remains too early to determine the exact location and magnitude of potential impacts." 
    * Formation chance through 48 hours...high...90 percent.
    * Formation chance through 7 days...high...90 percent.

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