Ka'ū News Briefs Sunday, September 3, 2017

Sen. Mazie Hirono, Hawai'i Attorney General Doug Chin and Hawai'i Coalition for Civil Rights last Wednesday
defending DACA, which Pres. Donald Trump plans to end, according to press reports today. See story below and
in the Aug. 30 Ka'u News Briefs. Photo from Office of Sen. Mazie Hirono

"WE SHOULD NOT LET DACA BECOME A DREAM DEFERRED," Sen. Mazie Hirono tweeted today, just before Politico and other news outlets reported that Pres. Donald Trump will announce an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, with a six month delay. That decision would put as many as 2,000 residents of Hawai'i, who were brought here as children without federal permission, in jeopardy of being expelled from the country, even though most grew up, went to school, work and have families here. During Pres. Barack Obama's term, DACA was established to help these immigrants, also called DREAMers, to come out of the shadows and register with the federal government, receiving permission, two years at a time, while they seek legals status in the country.
     Before the likely action of Trump came out in the press today, Hirono tweeted, "If @realDonaldTrum ends DACA, we will pursue legislation and other legal avenues to stop this travesty & protect DREAMers." Hirono also tweeted, "Attacking minorities & stoking fear are pillars of @realDonaldTrump's Presidency. Will keep fighting to #SaveDACA and protect #DREAmers."
     The Center for American Progress and the lobbying group FWD.us recently announced results of its study that found that ending DACA would cost 700,000 jobs over the next two years nationwide, costing the U.S. $460.3 billion in economic output over ten years.
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Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted photos of flooding in Houston (above) and 
around the world to demonstrate climate change events 
this past week. Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC VIEWS are words that Sen. Mazie Hirono used to describe the character of some of Pres. Donald Trump's administration officials. As a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, she released a statement on Friday regarding William Bradford’s resignation as Director of the Department of Energy’s Office of Indian Energy after media reports exposed comments Bradford made online:

      “I welcome William Bradford’s resignation from his position as the Director of the Office of Indian Energy. His many offensive online statements, including that the internment of 120,000 Japanese-Americans during World War II was ‘necessary’ are truly beyond the pale, especially as he was appointed to lead an office that serves minority communities.

Flooding in Niger, Africa this past week.
Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

     “It remains deeply troubling, however, that Bradford is only one of a number of top Trump administration officials with a history of racist and misogynistic views. Secretary Perry has still not provided me with an explanation of how Bradford cleared the Department of Energy’s vetting process despite his repugnant online history. I expect these answers to be forthcoming from the Department.”

      In June, Senator Hirono led a letter to Secretary of Energy Rick Perry to fire Bradford based on

his offensive online statements.  The Secretary of Energy did not reply, reported Hirono.

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CLIMATE CHANGE IS NOT ONLY AFFECTING HOUSTON IN THE USA. Hawai'i Sen. Brian Schatz recently retweeted photos showing Houston in Texas, Mumbai in India and Niger in Africa, all flooded this past week.

Flooding in Mumbai in India this past week.
 Image from Sen. Brian Schatz

     "Climate change is real an it is the most urgent challenge of our generation," Schatz insisted. "Extreme weather becoming more frequent and severe. If you don't want to call it 'climate change,' I understand, but we have to deal with it."
     Schatz also tweeted, "A tax on carbon pollution would generate enough money for tax reform and fund disaster relief. It is a market oriented climate solution.
Ignoring severe weather isn't cheaper, it costs us more in recovery money than it would cost us to address carbon pollution."

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DECLINING UNIVERSITY OF HAWAI'I ENROLLMENT is a troubling trend facing the community, according to state Senator Kai Kahele, who gave a town hall meeting last Wednesday in Hilo. See video of the session at bigislandvideonews.com.
     To a session packed with students, professors and UH-Hilo administrators, Kahele stated a "major challenge that we face is declining enrollments. And I don’t think using the word hemorrhaging is an exaggeration. I think we are hemorrhaging in enrollment. We need to plug the hole. We’re not plugging the hole.” He cautioned that increasing tuition is no solution.

A Vulcan Village would help draw students to live at the University of
Hawai'i-Hilo campus with a commercial center and housing,
said state Sen. Gil Kahele at a meeting on declining enrollment.

     Kahele's own family has seen a lot of educational accomplishment, from his Miloli'i ancestors who fished for a living from a canoe, to his father, the late state Sen. Gil Kahele, to his own education and military and airline pilot training.       Kai Kahele said the rationale being given is that Hawai'i is mirroring national trends. “Universities all across the country have declining enrollments. It’s because the economy is doing so great, students are not coming to school, they’d rather go to work. And maybe that might be true. But that’s not an excuse I want to keep hearing for declining enrollments. We need to fix it, and we need to fix it now.”

     He pointed to strengthening such programs as a statewide "cradle to career" partnership and putting out more recruiting materials, outreach, summer programs, marketing, branding and outreach strategy, and social media all being in sync. Better financial aid process. Improve the teaching environment and don't devalue positions. Non-traditional and distance learning are other plans to increase enrollment.

     He noted that the enrollment decline leads to tuition loss. "It’s a concern for students and the faculties and communities that are intertwined with their institutions. And to me it’s now a matter of statewide concern. The University of Hawai'i has autonomy that’s constitutionally mandated, right? The legislature is not supposed to micromanage a university. I don’t want to micromanage a university. I don’t expect our new regent to micromanage a university, unless it’s a matter of statewide concern." 

      Kahele noted that the largest enrollment in the last five years at UH-HIlo was at 4,157 students. The number has declined annually to 3,666 students last year. He talked about the $50,000 cost for  out of state students, driving them to stay on the mainland. He also noted that tuition keeps going up for in-state students.

Enrollment is going down and tuition going up for locals and out-of state students. Not a good trend,
said Sen. Gil Kahele at a university town hall meeting. Photo from bigislandvideonews.com

      Kahele recommended halting plans to increase tuition and to take a look at student life and recommended developing a community on university land. He showed a slide show of a concept called Vulcan Village on 36 acres transferred to the UH-Hilo in 1999. It was to include housing, a retail and commercial center with office space, restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and an urgent care center. The site is across from the university's athletic centers. UH put the plan out to developers but no contract was awarded.

     “A key component to this that’s already in place: university zoning,” said Kahele. "You know how hard it is to get university zoning? Its either a luxury resort or residential… and we have this special zoning called university zoning. Is that a good thing?” The senator said that in order to make the project happen, "You need to have that business acumen here in Hilo.”

     He also talked about making Hawai'i Community College-Hilo the premier vocational education center in the state. See the full talk at bigislandvideonews.com.

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                                      UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball: Wednesday, Sept. 6, Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away game.

Friday, Sept. 8, Ka'ū vs. St. Joseph, away game.

Eight-Man Football: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Lana'i, away game.

Cross Country: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Kamehameha, away game.

Bowling: Saturday, Sept. 9, Ka'ū vs. Hilo & Konawaena at Kona Bowl.

Pick up the September edition of The Ka'ū Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka'ū, from Miloli'i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at kaucalendar.com

REGISTER KEIKI FOR SUNFLOWER CRAFT until Sept. 15. The craft class, for keiki ages 6 to 14, will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at Kahuku Park from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 929-9113 for more.

A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING is set for tomorrow, Sept. 4, 4 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details, call 939-7033.

KA'Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Sept. 5, from 6 pm. to 8 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center.

HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 7. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas can be found at hawaiicounty.gov.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details call 939-2442 or 928-2015.

PANCAKE BREAKFAST AT OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY CENTER is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. For more details, call 939-7033.

Register by Sept. 11, 2017.
For more details, see the Ka'ū News Briefs from Aug. 30, 2017.

ATLAS RECYCLING WILL COLLECTING AT SOUTH POINT U-CART on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

BIRTH OF KAHUKU a free hike within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park is offered on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Explore the 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. Visit nps.gov/HAVO for more details.

ACOUSTIC INSTRUMENT PLAYERS, DRUMMERS, SINGERS AND DANCERS ARE WELCOMED for Kanikapila, on Saturday, Sept. 9, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., at the Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church Hall. For more call Desmond at 937-6305.

REGISTER 5TH GRADE GIRLS FOR GEMS BY SEPT. 15. Ka‘ū fifth grade girls are invited to start registering for GEMS, Girls Exploring Math and Science. The annual all day event has been set for the Crown Marriot King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for Nov. 9.
     Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited. Registration fee is $20 and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away because of financial need.
     All fifth grade girls residing in the West Hawai‘i School complex in public, private, or home-schooled are welcome. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl, or to request a registration packet, contact Cindy Armer, GEMS chairperson at cbarmer@hotmail.com or 808-896-7180. Remember GEMS registration form must be postmarked by 9-15-17. See more details on Ka'ū News Briefs from August 15, 2017.

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

Ka'ū News Briefs Saturday, September 2, 2017

Ta'ape from Tahiti are invasive and have taken over coral reef habitat in most waters of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands,
but are absent from much of the marine preserve at Papahānaumokuākea, report scientists. See story below.

REASONS FOR OBJECTION TO THE HŪ HONUA PROJECT and its plan to harvest eucalyptus from 3,700 acres around Pāhala will be stated in the Hawai'i Supreme Court appeal, filed by Life of the Land this week. The eucalyptus, on Kamehameha Schools land, would be cut and trucked along Hwy. 11 through  Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and Hilo to burn in a Pepe'ekeo power plant.  Life of the Land and its Executive Director Henry Curtis states that its case is the "first challenge by a Public Utilities Commission docket participant regarding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions in Hawai'i." Life of the Land is represented by Maui attorney Lance D. Collins.

Henry Curtis points to the high cost of electricity and 

climate change in the Life of the Land Appeal to

reverse the PUC Hū Honua approval.

Photo from Big Island Video News

     Life of the Land testified against the Hū Honua proposal in proceedings before the PUC, which approved the project. Life of the Land recommended to the PUC that “this project is not in the public interest and should be rejected.” It brought up cost, environment and pricing concerns.
     Life of the Land contends that contracted prices for electricity derived from Hū Honua burning trees would be much higher than other alternative energies such as solar. “In light of steadily-decreasing costs for other energy sources, Hū Honua’s costs are exorbitant and escalating. In the face of dramatically falling prices across the globe, Hū Honua has proposed a 30-year contract, running from 2019 to 2048. Hū Honua is asking to be paid over 20 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2018, which would then rise to over 32 cents per kilowatt-hour in 2048. Unidentified additional costs to cover transmission, distribution, and administration will then be tacked on by HELCO.”
    Life of the Land compares the Hū Honua contract with lower priced proposals: The PUC approved one Kaua'i Island Utilities Cooperative solar-based electricity project, at 11.08 cents per kWh, and another SolarCity Corporation solar-plus-battery Power Purchase Agreement at 14.5 cents per kWh.
    The PUC also approved a waiver from competitive bidding for the proposed West Loch PV Project on O'ahu, stating, “the Equivalent Levelized Energy Payment for the Project, as well as the PPA equivalent energy price, is estimated by HECO and the Consumer Advocate to be 9.56 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).” Life of the land points out that “With respect to the West Lock Project, the Commission took notice of Tucson Electric Power's solar-plus storage project priced at 4.5 cents per kWh.”
     Life of the Land also contends that Hū Honua’s “environmental-impact discussion is incomplete and its claim of ‘carbon-neutrality’ is unsupported. Honua’s proposal fails to fully address issues of Climate Change and the environmental impact of their proposed operations."
    Life of the Land points to new legislation that Gov. David Ige signed into law, which includes the statement: “The legislature finds that not only is climate change real, but it is the overriding challenge of the 21st century and one of the priority issues of the senate. Climate change poses immediate and long-term threats to the State’s economy, sustainability, security, and way of life.”
     Life of the Land also quotes Hawaiian Electric Industries CEO Constance Lau, who talked about Climate Change at the VERGE Hawai'i 2017 conference. She said, “Everybody is still moving in the same directions, that they were moving in, and particularly for the electric utility industry, that's been towards much more renewables, and it all started with climate change, and it still is about climate change, but frankly, there are so many forces that are actually making it economically right, to have renewables.”
     Life of the Land reports that community members asked the Hū Honua team about climate change at a community meeting in Kukuihaele Village, on June 19, 2017. One Hū Honua representative Rob Robinson said, “We are carbon-neutral.” Another Hū Honua backer Kevin ‘K.J.’ Johnson said, “In our case...it ends up being carbon neutral." According to Life of the land, “No details were offered aside from an assertion that they would plant trees that would be harvested and replanted every seven years. No discussion of the carbon costs of transportation or the harvesting operation itself was discussed.”

     Life of the Land asked for an analysis of fossil fuels to be used in the mechanization of growing, chopping, chipping, and transport. “Hū Honua alleges that this operation is carbon neutral. In the absence of hard facts, however, the only thing supporting Hū Honua’s analysis is an audacious statement that amounts to, ‘Trust us, we're green,” states Life of the Land.
     The Public Utilities Commission assigned Life of the Land to consider two issues in the Hū Honua case. One concern was whether the energy price components of the Hū Honua proposal “property reflect the cost of biomass fuel supply.” States Life of the Land, “The cost of biofuel includes both financial and non-financial components, which Hū Honua has failed to adequately address.”

    The other issue is whether HELCO's purchase power arrangements with Hū Honua are prudent and in the public interest. "The issue of climate change is of major public interest to the State and to the world, except, apparently, to Hū Honua.” states Life of the Land.
      Life of the Land notes that for other PUC considerations, it has sponsored Dr. Tad Patzek, an expert scientist who questions the role of biofuels. He has been a consultant and expert witness for the California Energy Commission, General Electric, Inc., and has testified before Congress. In testimony before the PUC, he said, "People, especially the so-called pure environmentalists, are loath to accept the fact that what they think religiously -- that is, green is good — is not necessarily so. And they really have a hard time believing or accepting or - thinking that not everything that is green is in fact good."
     Patzek listed transportation distance as an important consideration in the cost benefit of a biofuel.
     Life of the Land also brought up endangered species, asking whether bats or other endangered species would be impacted by the logging operations.

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Ta'ape were introduced from Tahiti to O'ahu and made their way up the island chain, but are absent
from much of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Map from University of Hawai'i

MUCH OF THE NORTHERN HAWAIIAN ISLANDS MARINE PRESERVE has escaped intrusion of invasive ta'ape, a fish introduced in the last century from Tahiti. NOAA and University of Hawai‘i marine scientists just published a study describing a complete absence of the introduced, invasive bluestriped snapper (Lutjanus kasmira) - locally called ta‘ape, across a large region of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

      Deep coral reefs between 130 and 330 feet in the northwestern half of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument (which encompasses the NWHI) were found to be completely devoid of the widespread invasive fish species. In comparison, large schools of ta‘ape are common on shallow and deep reefs across all of the inhabited main Hawaiian Islands, and also in the southern half of Papahānaumokuākea.

Deep coral reefs in the marine preserve show more
diversity and more native species, with fewer
ta'ape, Photo from NOAA

      “Ta‘ape are widespread throughout the main Hawaiian Islands, and are considered to be an invasive species with the potential to compete with our native species. This finding indicates that deep coral reefs of Papahānaumokuākea represent a large zone where native species can thrive in the absence of introduced invasive species,” said NOAA Deputy Superintendent of Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument Randall Kosaki, one of the co-authors of the study.

       In 2016, scientists discovered that deep coral reefs between 300 and 330 feet at Kure Atoll, the northernmost of all the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, had fish communities composed exclusively of Hawaiian endemic species, or fishes that are found only in Hawai‘i.

       The study further found that schools of ta‘ape were typically found in close association with more desirable food fish such yellowfin goatfish (weke ‘ula, Mulloidichthys vanicolensis) and sleek unicornfish (opelu kala, Naso hexacanthus) on shallow reefs.  On deeper reefs below 130 feet, ta‘ape were associated with soldierfish (‘u‘u or menpachi, Myripristis amaena). 

       “It is possible that ta‘ape may compete with these native species for habitat space. However, dietary overlap between these species is minimal, so they are not direct competitors for food," said Atsuko Fukunaga, Papahānaumokuākea Ecological Research Statistician, first author of the study.

Ta'ape were introduced to Hawai'i from Tahiti
in the late 1950's.

       Brian Hauk, PMNM Resource Protection Manager, co-author of the study, explained: “Although research has not conclusively demonstrated any detrimental impacts to more preferred native species of fishes, the ta‘ape is nevertheless considered to be a nuisance species by local fishermen, because they frequently bite on hooks intended for more desirable fishes.”

        Using advanced closed-circuit rebreather dive technology, scientists were able to survey reefs at depths of up to 330 feet (100 meters), which is much deeper than any research conducted using conventional scuba gear. 

       Greatest abundances of ta‘ape, schools of many hundreds of fish, were recorded at French Frigate Shoals in 170 to 200 feet. At all atolls and islands further north, scientists saw zero ta‘ape on deep reefs between 130 and 330 feet.

Ta'ape are widespread in the inhabited Hawaiian
Islands and compete with native fish. NOAA photo

     The bluestriped snapper, better known to local fishers by its Tahitian name, ta‘ape, was intentionally introduced to O‘ahu from French Polynesia in the late 1950's. At the time, the Hawai‘i Division of Fish and Game (predecessor to today’s DLNR Division of Aquatic Resources) thought that the introduction would supplement fisheries based on native species. However, recreational or commercial fisheries for ta‘ape failed to develop as the fish spread rapidly across the archipelago. By the 1970's, ta‘ape were found throughout the MHI in large schools from shallow reefs to depths of over 400 feet. By 1981, they had been recorded as far north as Laysan Island in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands, 830 miles from their point of introduction on O'ahu. By 1993, they had been recorded at Midway Atoll (1160 miles from O'ahu), and they are now known to occur as far north as Kure Atoll, the northernmost of the Hawaiian Islands.

         The NOAA study also noted that the peacock grouper (Cephalopholis argus) or roi, which was also introduced to Hawai‘i from French Polynesia in the 1950's, were found in abundance on shallow reefs of Papahānaumokuākea as far north as French Frigate Shoals, but not beyond. Roi were not noted in deep reef surveys anywhere in Papahānaumokuākea.  

      The study shows that large portions of Papahānaumokuākea serve as a refuge for native species where introduced and invasive ta‘ape and roi have failed to become established. 

      The article, authored by Atsuko Fukunaga, Randall Kosaki, and Brian Hauk, entitled Distribution and abundance of the introduced snapper Lutjanus kasmira (Forsskål, 1775) on shallow and mesophotic reefs of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands can be viewed online at http://www.reabic.net/journals/bir/2017/3/BIR_2017_Fukunaga_etal.pdf. 

      For more on Papahānaumokuākea visit www.papahanaumokuakea.gov.

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UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball: Wednesday, Sept. 6,
Ka'ū vs. Waiakea, away game.

KA'Ū COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN will be considered for adoption at the Hawai'i County Council Planning Committee's next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 9:15 a.m. The Planning Committee Agenda can be found at hawaiicounty.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view_id=1 and the Ka'ū CDP Steering Committee agenda can be found at: hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/september-6-2017.

 

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

REGISTER KEIKI FOR SUNFLOWER CRAFT until Sept. 15. The craft class, for keiki ages 6 to 14, will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at Kahuku Park from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 929-9113 for more.

HIKE TO THE TOP OF PU'U O LOKUANA this Sunday, Sept. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., within the Kahuku Unit of

Pick up the September edition of The Ka`u Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka`u, from Miloli`i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at www.kaucalendar.com

Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the formation and various uses of this grassy cinder cone and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū on this free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top. For more detail, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAM RADIO OPERATORS INVITES all American Radio Emergency Service members, anyone interested in learning how to operate a ham radio and families to attend a potluck picnic on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Manukā Park. For more details, call Dennis Smith at 989-3028.

A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING is set for Monday, Sept. 4, 4 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details, call 939-7033.

KA'Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Sept. 5, from 6 pm. to 8 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center.

HAWAI'I COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS Wednesday, Sept. 6, and Thursday, Sept. 7. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas can be found at hawaiicounty.gov.

Register by Sept. 11, 2017.
For more details, see the
  Ka'ū News Briefs Aug. 30, 2017.

OCEAN VIEW NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS Thursday, Sept. 7, 6 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details call 939-2442 or 928-2015.

REGISTER 5TH GRADE GIRLS FOR GEMS BY SEPT. 15. Ka‘ū fifth grade girls are invited to start registering for GEMS, Girls Exploring Math and Science. The annual all day event has been set for the Crown Marriot King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for Nov. 9.
     Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited. Registration fee is $20 and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away because of financial need.
     All fifth grade girls residing in the West Hawai‘i School complex in public, private, or home-schooled are welcome. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl, or to request a registration packet, contact Cindy Armer, GEMS chairperson at cbarmer@hotmail.com or 808-896-7180. Remember GEMS registration form must be postmarked by 9-15-17. See more details on Ka'ū News Briefs from August 15, 2017.

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf

Ka'ū News Briefs Friday, September 1, 2017

Example of the Keanakāko'i Tephra sequence exposed on the southeast side of Kīlauea Volcano's summit caldera showing some of the identified units labeled with the revised nomenclature scheme. See story below. USGS photo by D. Swanson\

LEAVING HIS SENATE POST TO RUN FOR LT. GOVERNOR is Josh Green, the longtime state Senator representing west Ka'ū and Kona. He announced his candidacy this morning.
     Said Green," Every day, families across our state tell me we need fresh leadership, not politics as usual. Hawai'i families want government to work for them, to get results that make their lives better, and to reflect our shared values. That's what I believe government should do, and that's why I'm running to serve as Lieutenant Governor."

     "As a local doctor, I’ve spent my life caring for Hawai'i families. I’ve had the privilege of taking care of our moms and dads, our keiki and kupuna: delivering babies, stitching up wounds, or just being there to hold the hand of a sick child or an elderly grandmother in the hospital."Serving in the State Senate, I’ve worked to pass legislation that strengthens and supports Hawai'i families, including universal healthcare for our keiki, guaranteed insurance coverage for Hawai'i’s autistic children, stronger protections for victims of sexual assault, and new programs to reduce maternal mortality.

Dr. Josh Green is the west Ka'ū and Kona state Senator who
announced today that he is running for Lt. Governor.
With him are his children Maia and Sam and wife Jaime.

     "And as a husband and father of two young children, I have the same hopes and concerns as every parent in Hawai'i.
     "My wife Jaime and I want our kids, Maia and Sam, to grow up in a Hawai'i where no family has to live in poverty, or has to choose between buying food or buying medicine for a sick child.
     "Usually, a campaign at its launch will ask friends and supporters to attend a fundraiser, or do some volunteer work for the campaign. Instead, I’d like to humbly invite anyone who wants to help build a better Hawai'i to join me in A Day of Service.
     "Please consider taking a few hours this Labor Day weekend to volunteer your time, attention, and care to someone in the community who really needs it.
     "Choose a homeless shelter, a women’s shelter, retirement home, long-term care ward, hospice, or other charitable organization that helps Hawai'i families in need, and offer your service.
     Green said that today he would serve as a volunteer doctor for homeless in Honolulu. Tomorrow he volunteers at a local clinic in Kona, providing medical care to families in the Filipino community.
     He offered his cell phone number for anyone to contact him regarding serving as a volunteer this weekend and the coming months. It is 937-0991. His email is joshuaboothgreen@yahoo.com and his website is joshgreen.org.

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RUNNING FOR THE STATE SENATE FOR WEST KA'Ū  through Kona in the 2018 elections will be Kona County Councilman Dru Mamo Kanuha. He announced his candidacy for state Senate District 3 today. Current state Senator for the district is Josh Green who announced yesterday that he is running for Lt. Governor (see above story).

      “Since the people of Kona gave me the opportunity and privilege to serve on the County Council in 2012, it’s been great to bring people together to get things done for our community. Now I look forward to working for all of the people of Kaʻū and Kona at the state Senate,” Kanuha said.

Dru Kanuha is running for State Senate to
represent west Ka'ū and Kona.

     Kanuha was born and raised in Kona, and graduated from Kealakehe High School and the University of San Diego. Kanuha worked at the State Capitol and at Kamehameha Schools’ Land Assets Division before being elected to the County Council in 2012. He is currently in his third term representing Council District 7.

      Kanuha said he is proud of improvements in transportation and recreation he advanced in Kona during three terms: building Laʻaloa Avenue as a mauka-makai connector to relieve traffic congestion on both Kuakini Highway above and Aliʻi Drive below, completing the Māmalahoa Bypass Extension from Keauhou to Nāpoʻopoʻo to alleviate congestion in South Kona, and opening the new playground at Kailua Park to families. He said he is especially proud of  "welcoming the community to Aliʻi Kai Park – delivering on a promise made by the county over four decades ago."

      While on the Council, Kanuha’s colleagues elected him Chair from 2014 to 2016, and he currently serves as chair of the Governmental Relations and Economic Development Committee. He was also chosen by his colleagues as president of the Hawaiʻi State Association of Counties, a body that advocates for the counties at the Legislature, and is on the board of directors of the National Association of Counties and its Western Interstate Region.

     “I believe my experience working for my constituents at the state and federal levels will make me a more effective state senator, fighting for access to quality education and health care, building a stronger economy, and making more affordable housing available to local families,” Kanuha said.

      “Having been blessed to grow up in West Hawaiʻi and raised with the values of compassion, respect, and aloha for the land, water, and people, it would be an honor to bring those values with me to the Hawaiʻi State Senate and work hard to address the needs of our people from Nāʻālehu to Ocean View, South Kona to Kealakekua, Kainaliu to Keauhou, Kailua to Kalaoa.”

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ESCALATING FIRE DANGER in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has prompted park officials to close Hilina Pali Road from the Mauna Iki Trailhead and Mauna Loa Road at the gate past Kīpukapuaulu. Non-motorized day use such as hiking and bicycling will be permitted, and backcountry camping on Mauna Loa is allowed with a permit.

      In addition, ‘Āinahou Ranch access will be restricted to essential personnel and authorized vehicles only. Campfires are prohibited at Nāmakanipaio Campground and Kīpukapuaulu until further notice. The use of fuel stoves is allowed.

National Park Service and County of Hawai'i firefighters extinguished
woodland fire by 8 a.m., Friday morning. NPS photo

     On Thursday afternoon, a fire burned nearly three acres of seasonally dry ‘ōhi‘a woodland and scattered koa trees, forcing park officials to close Mauna Loa Road from Highway 11 and temporarily evacuate Nāmakanipaio Campground. National Park Service and County of Hawai‘i fire crews responded to the blaze, located about one fourth mile west of Kīpukapuaulu. As of 8 a.m., Friday, the fire was 50 percent contained, and its spread had been halted.

      No structures or homes were threatened. Park officials report that the fire was started unintentionally, and its cause is under investigation.

     “We’ve had an extremely hot and dry summer in the park, and across the island which escalates the risk of fire,” said Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Chief Ranger John Broward. “Hot components on motor vehicles have historically contributed to the increased risk of fire, and by reducing the number of vehicles, we can mitigate the potential for a catastrophic event,” he said.

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NEW NOMENCLATURE FOR TEPHRA DEPOSITS is the subject of this week’s Volcano Watch article, written by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists.

USGS geologist Don Swanson (right) explains Keanakāko'i Tephra  

 stratigraphy exposed near the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to scientists 

who visited Kīlauea during a Geological Society of America field trip in 

May 2017. USGS photo by T. Neal

     According to the article, after 80 years of using the “wastebasket term” Keanakāko‘i Tephra, to name all the explosive deposits produced by Kīlauea between about 1500 and the early 1800s, University of Hawai‘i and HVO scientists have discovered a need for more specificity. The article states that they have therefore, “developed a new nomenclature that is simple and reflects the various processes that formed the different deposits. They couldn't use geographic names, as is the norm in geology. There simply aren't enough suitable names around the caldera for what ultimately became a 12-unit classification, with some of the units subdivided still more.
     “Instead, they opted for a nomenclature that instantly allows a beginner to tell which of two units is the older. The units range from A to L, in order of decreasing age. Unit A was erupted in about 1500 and the four subdivisions of unit L (themselves in temporal order, L1 to L4) in the early 1800s. Letters, rather than numbers, were used to avoid confusion with an earlier numbered nomenclature that never really took off.”
     The article states, “We've limped along, using colorful terms for some of these subdivisions of the Keanakāko'i. Names such as ‘mystery unit,’ ‘footprints ash,’ ‘layer 6 scoria,’ ‘basal reticulite,’ ‘golden pumice,’ ‘eastern pumice,’ and ‘unit H’ have become the beloved jargon of the in-group studying the Keanakāko'i. These names may never go away completely, but as more scientists tackle research issues in the Keanakāko'i, a more systematic nomenclature became desirable. Something had to be done to clean up the mess.

USGS graphic explaining tephra deposits. 

     “…There’s been predictable pushback: the new terms lack color, are too hard to remember and too disruptive to old thinking, are not descriptive (as if 'mystery unit' or 'unit H' is descriptive!). But c'est la vie, that's life. We think that, once the shock is over, the new nomenclature will make things easier for future researchers.
     “Eruption style and intensity that produced the Keanakāko'i Tephra are exceptionally diverse for a basaltic shield volcano. The new nomenclature takes this diversity into account. The boundaries between units conform to important changes in eruption style and, commonly, to different directions the explosion debris was dispersed.
   “Maps of the different units show that their vents moved around in the caldera, sometimes shifting locations hundreds of meters in only a few years. Varying mixtures of steam from heated groundwater and volcanic gas powered many of the explosions, steam alone powered others, and at least four explosions were probably driven by volcanic gas only.
     “The caldera was a dynamic place during the 300-plus years just before written history began at Kīlauea (in 1823), and the newly defined subdivisions of the Keanakāko'i Tephra help us understand this energetic and dangerous time better than did the previous terminology. So, out with the old and in with the new!”

     To see the full article, visit http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/.

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KA'Ū COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PLAN will be considered for adoption at the Hawai'i County Council Planning Committee's next meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 9:15 a.m. The Planning Committee Agenda can be found at hawaiicounty.granicus.com/viewpublisher.php?view_id=1 and the Ka'ū CDP Steering Committee agenda can be found at: hawaiicountycdp.info/kau-cdp/steering-committee/steering-commitee-meetings/september-6-2017.

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UPCOMING EVENTS FOR FALL TROJAN SPORTS:

Girls Volleyball: today, Friday, Sept. 1, Ka'ū vs. Lapahoehoe, away game.

Eight-Man Football: tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 2, Ka'ū vs. Kohala, away game. 

Cross Country: tomorrow, Saturday, Sept. 2, Ka'ū vs. Kealakehe, away meet.

Pick up the September edition of The Ka`u Calendar delivered
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka`u, from Miloli`i 
through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout
the district. See it online at www.kaucalendar.com

SUNFLOWER CRAFT REGISTRATION for keiki ages 6 to 14 opened today, Sept. 1, and continues through Sept. 15. The craft class will take place on Monday, Sept. 18, at Kahuku Park from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 929-9113 for more.

REALMS AND DIVISIONS OF KAHUKU, a moderately difficult two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit’s newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. The hike is scheduled for tomorrow, Sept. 2, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Bring a snack for the talk story segment of this hike. For more information, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

KA'Ū COMMUNITY FUN DAY & FUN-RAISING EVENT offered by Hope Dia-Mend Ministries is set to take place tomorrow, Sept. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the grounds of the Nā'ālehu Community Center and field. For more information, call 808-929-8137 or visit hopedia-mendministries.com/jubilee. The event flyer also indicates entertainment, a keiki water slide and bouncy castle, a silent auction, Portuguese horseshoe tournament, classic car displays, vendor booths, carnival games and jail & rail. As part of the fundraising effort, chicken plates will be pre-sold at $10 each or 5 for $45 and chili & rice plates will be pre-sold at $5 each or 5 for $22. Game wristbands will be pre-sold at $10 each and can be purchased for $15 each at the event. Organizers welcome event sponsors and donations.

GREEN MACHINE: A Tiki Mama event sponsoring Hawai'i Island Food Bank takes place tomorrow, Sept. 2, at Tiki Mama's, along Hwy. 11, on Road to the Sea. Gates open at 4 p.m. A donation of $10 and a one can of food is suggested.

Late registration fees start Sept. 11. See
Ka'ū News Briefs from Aug. 30, 2017.

HIKE TO THE TOP OF PU'U O LOKUANA this Sunday, Sept. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., within the Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the formation and various uses of this grassy cinder cone and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū on this free, moderately difficult 0.4-mile hike to the top. For more detail, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAM RADIO OPERATORS INVITES all American Radio Emergency Service members, anyone interested in learning how to operate a ham radio and families to attend a potluck picnic on Sunday, Sept. 3, at Manukā Park. For more details, call Dennis Smith at 989-3028.

A VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING is set for Monday, Sept. 4, 4 p.m., at the Ocean View Community Center. For more details, call 939-7033.

KA'Ū COFFEE GROWERS COOPERATIVE MEETS TUESDAY, Sept. 5, from 6 pm. to 8 p.m., at the Pāhala Community Center.


REGISTER 5TH GRADE GIRLS FOR GEMS BY SEPT. 15. Ka‘ū fifth grade girls are invited to start registering for GEMS, Girls Exploring Math and Science. The annual all day event has been set for the Crown Marriot King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel for Nov. 9.
     Registration is on a first come, first served basis, and space is limited. Registration fee is $20 and scholarships are available. No girl will be turned away because of financial need.
     All fifth grade girls residing in the West Hawai‘i School complex in public, private, or home-schooled are welcome. Sponsorship of girls by individuals or businesses will be accepted. For more information about GEMS, to sponsor a girl, or to request a registration packet, contact Cindy Armer, GEMS chairperson at cbarmer@hotmail.com or 808-896-7180. Remember GEMS registration form must be postmarked by 9-15-17. See more details on Ka'ū News Briefs from August 15, 2017.

http://kaucalendar.com/TheDirectory_2017.swf