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| Dramatic spattering at Halema`uma`u's lava lake is getting national attention. Photo from USGS/HVO |
HALEMA`UMA`U MADE NATIONAL NEWS this morning with CBS among networks carrying the story and video showing dramatic spattering from the lava lake inside the crater. U.S. Geological Survey explained that spattering occurs at the lake margins with surface crust flowing into the spattering source. Large bubbles bursting at the surface drive the spattering activity, as shown occasionally by large, spherical bursts, said scientists at Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
See youtube.com/watch?v=6FvEccaBySo where Honolulu Star-Advertiser posted the USGS video. USGS also reported 11 earthquakes beneath Kilauea Volcano in 24 hours, with four on south flank faults, two in Kaoiki Pali, two beneath the summit caldera and three in the southwest rift zone.
Scientists at University of Miami wrote in Geology magazine last year that they located a magma reservoir five to six miles beneath Kilauea’s upper east rift zone.
Researcher Guoqing Lin and colleagues used compression and shear wave velocities from earthquakes to pinpoint the magma chamber, which they said is “similar to those widely recognized beneath mid-ocean ridge volcanoes.”
They said the reservoir could have supplied the magma that intruded into the deep section of the east rift zone and caused its rapid expansion following the 7.2-magnitude Kalapana earthquake in 1975.
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| DLNR map shows hunting areas and areas to be fenced under Ka`u Forest Reserve Management Plan. |
KA`U FOREST RESERVE MANAGEMENT PLAN, which calls for fencing 12,000 acres or about 20 percent of the reserve to protect native plant species and watersheds, has received a favorable summary judgment from a Circuit Court judge, according to a story in Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
Pele Defense Fund and four other plaintiffs had filed a lawsuit in Nov. 2012 arguing that the state did not properly take into account the impact of fencing on hunters and cultural practices.
The fencing project, which includes gates and walk-overs, also calls for removal of ungulates by hunting and trapping.
Attorneys for plaintiffs plan to appeal. James Dombroski told reporter Tom Callis that since Judge Glenn Hara ruled that DLNR did not make any procedural violations in completing its environmental assessment on the plan, the plaintiffs could argue during an appeal that the department erred by not conducting a more extensive environmental impact statement.
Callis reported that a Department of Land & Natural Resources spokeswoman said the plan is being implemented.
William Aila, DLNR chair, said, “We believe the plan does accommodate the needs of different communities in Ka`u.” According to DLNR, the area to be fenced is remote and the least often used by hunters.
Attorneys for plaintiffs plan to appeal. James Dombroski told reporter Tom Callis that since Judge Glenn Hara ruled that DLNR did not make any procedural violations in completing its environmental assessment on the plan, the plaintiffs could argue during an appeal that the department erred by not conducting a more extensive environmental impact statement.
Callis reported that a Department of Land & Natural Resources spokeswoman said the plan is being implemented.
William Aila, DLNR chair, said, “We believe the plan does accommodate the needs of different communities in Ka`u.” According to DLNR, the area to be fenced is remote and the least often used by hunters.
PDF president Ralph Palikapu Dedman told the Tribune-Herald that he felt the ruling dealt too much with bureaucratic procedure, and not enough with the “merits of the case.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
“THE BATTLE IS OVER; LET US MOVE FORWARD working together for all the people of Hawai`i,” said Hawai`i Island’s state Sen. Malama Solomon, who issued a public “Mahalo” on behalf of all Hawai`i Island residents to both the U.S. Supreme Court and the legal team working “to protect Hawai`i Island’s right to equal representation as guaranteed by both the U.S. and State of Hawai`i Constitutions.”
See hawaiitribune-herald.com.
“THE BATTLE IS OVER; LET US MOVE FORWARD working together for all the people of Hawai`i,” said Hawai`i Island’s state Sen. Malama Solomon, who issued a public “Mahalo” on behalf of all Hawai`i Island residents to both the U.S. Supreme Court and the legal team working “to protect Hawai`i Island’s right to equal representation as guaranteed by both the U.S. and State of Hawai`i Constitutions.”
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| U.S. Supreme Court made Hawai`i Island's four state Senate seats official Tuesday. |
Solomon’s message of gratitude came after more than two years of intense litigation concluded Tuesday, when the U.S. Supreme Court formally resolved a case she and several Hawai`i Island residents had taken to the state Supreme Court challenging the 2011 state Reapportionment Commission’s initial plan based on the 2010 Census to count out-of-state military members and their families stationed in the islands and out-of-state students when re-drawing legislative districts.
Solomon and her legal team, working with the state attorney general, challenged the plan on the basis that it denied Hawai`i Island residents equitable representation which they believed required adding a fourth state Senate seat for Hawai`i Island because of the nearly 25 percent increase in resident population on the island between 2000 and 2010.
After an O`ahu group appealed to the U.S. District Court, the court rejected their argument and ruled that the state Redistricting Commission upheld the constitutional guarantee of one man, one vote.
Solomon and her legal team, working with the state attorney general, challenged the plan on the basis that it denied Hawai`i Island residents equitable representation which they believed required adding a fourth state Senate seat for Hawai`i Island because of the nearly 25 percent increase in resident population on the island between 2000 and 2010.
After an O`ahu group appealed to the U.S. District Court, the court rejected their argument and ruled that the state Redistricting Commission upheld the constitutional guarantee of one man, one vote.
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PRIVATE, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS PARTNERING with Ka`u Hospital and others in the state public hospital system “will be one of the top two or three issues we’ll take up in the health care committees this year,” Ka`u’s state Sen. Josh Green, chairman of the Senate Health Committee, told Colin M. Stewart, of Hawai`i Tribune-Herald.
“I’m going to float a bill which is essentially us trying to encourage local partnerships with hospitals — health care systems already in the state of Hawai`i — while also maintaining the same criteria I brought up last session, including honoring people’s history of work in our state, and the benefits that they’ve earned. … That would allow us to begin to reduce the tax burden on our people,” he said.
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| Ka`u's Sen. Josh Green expects partnerships between state hospitals, including Ka`u Hospital, and private, nonprofit organizations to be a topic at the state Legislature. Photo by Julia Neal |
Green said he planned to introduce a bill today that addresses nonprofits partnering with Hawai`i’s public hospitals.
“The reason for encouraging local people is that they have a full understanding of our state,” he said. “They understand the health care system and the challenges it faces. They’ve also already built up a relationship of trust.”
Green said that under his bill, companies could partner with public hospitals if they agree to certain conditions. “One, services are not to be decreased. Two, the state has to honor all of its responsibilities as far as maintaining full pensions and those accrued by employees. And the prevailing sentiment was that we want a partner we can trust, someone local, who will give us a fair shot.
“The reason for encouraging local people is that they have a full understanding of our state,” he said. “They understand the health care system and the challenges it faces. They’ve also already built up a relationship of trust.”
Green said that under his bill, companies could partner with public hospitals if they agree to certain conditions. “One, services are not to be decreased. Two, the state has to honor all of its responsibilities as far as maintaining full pensions and those accrued by employees. And the prevailing sentiment was that we want a partner we can trust, someone local, who will give us a fair shot.
Green said that while the ultimate goal is to eliminate state subsidy of hospitals, he doesn’t want “to cut off the subsidy immediately.”
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| Ka`u's U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard |
KA`U’S U.S. REP. TULSI GABBARD has announced the launch of her campaign for re-election this year.
“It has truly been my honor and privilege to represent Hawai`i’s 2nd Congressional District, and to do my best to be your voice in Washington,” Gabbard said. “There is still much work to be done. I know that by bringing people together in the spirit of aloha, striving to be servant leaders, we will create positive change by working to strengthen our economy, get people back to work and care for our kupuna.
“This past year, in spite of a bitterly divided Congress, we have overcome tremendous odds to deliver real results for the people of Hawai`i.”
Gabbard listed her actions in Congress:
“It has truly been my honor and privilege to represent Hawai`i’s 2nd Congressional District, and to do my best to be your voice in Washington,” Gabbard said. “There is still much work to be done. I know that by bringing people together in the spirit of aloha, striving to be servant leaders, we will create positive change by working to strengthen our economy, get people back to work and care for our kupuna.
“This past year, in spite of a bitterly divided Congress, we have overcome tremendous odds to deliver real results for the people of Hawai`i.”
Gabbard listed her actions in Congress:
- Introduced and led the passage of the Helping Heroes Fly Act with a unanimous vote of support in both the House and Senate. This measure improves airport security screenings for severely wounded warriors and was signed into law by President Obama in August.
- Led passage of a measure to reinstate the Native Hawaiian Education Act to increase student achievement and opportunity among Native Hawaiian keiki.
- Successfully added a provision to the FARM bill which will help Hawai`i’s coffee farmers and work to protect them from coffee berry borers.
- Fought for justice for service men and women who have been victims of sexual assault while serving within ranks, bringing about changes to increase accountability, transparency and justice.
- Spoke out strongly against the overreach of the National Security Agency and its data collection, sponsoring legislation such as the USA Freedom Act to bring reforms to protect privacy and civil liberties without sacrificing national security.
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| Ka`u High Trojan releases the ball for a basket at Kohala Tuesday. Video Capture from Jay Blanco |
Kohala fan Jay Blanco posted a video of Tuesday’s Ka`u – Kohala game on youtube.com. Search Kau vs Kohala Basketball Highlight 2014.
On Saturday, swimmers travel to Hilo for a match at 9 a.m., and wrestlers have a meet in Pahoa at 10 a.m.
`O KA`U KAKOU HOSTS ITS ANNUAL Keiki Fishing Tournament Saturday. Check-in is from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and fishing begins at 10 a.m.
For more information, call Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773.
KA`U HOSPITAL URGES RESIDENTS to complete its Community Health Needs Assessment at surveymonkey.com/s/93HQ5MX. The deadline is Jan. 31.
SEE THE DIRECTORY from the Ka`u Chamber of Commerce at http://snack.to/fzpfg59c.
SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.
