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Sunday, January 07, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Jan. 6 2024

This is Volcano Awareness Month and After Dark in the Park in January begins with a presentation
by USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick. USGS Photo by Matt Patrick

RECENT VOLCANIC ACTIVITY at Kīlauea summit, its patterns of behavior and monitoring techniques will be the subject of the first talk during January's Volcano Awareness Month. Called Kīlauea: Crater Filling Summit Eruptions, the presentation at After Dark in the Park this Tuesday, Jan. 9, is by Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Matt Patrick.
       USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is hosting Volcano Awareness Month and notes that "Following the dramatic collapses in 2018, the summit of Kīlauea has been in a multi-year phase of crater filling. Five separate eruptions—ranging in duration from about a week to over a year—have filled Halema‘uma‘u crater with lava flows and lava lakes. These eruptions have been accompanied by ever changing geophysical signals recorded by the dense monitoring network.
    The talk is at Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium at 7 p.m. Tuesday and is free but Park entry fees may apply.

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Maika'i Nash teaches at the Garcia School in
Pāhala, with performances Sunday and
Tuesday during Hawai'i International 
Music Festival. Photo from HIMF
FACULTY MEMBERS OF THE GARCÍA SCHOOL vocal workshop in Pāhala this week will share their musical expertise with performances on Sunday in a Celebration of Music! They will present their student concert on Tuesday. Both events are at Pāhala Plantation Managers House at 7 p.m. 
    The faculty is comprised of internationally acclaimed musicians and teachers. Amy Shoremount Obra, of the Obra coffee family in Pāhala, is a Metropolitan Opera soprano and co-founder of Hawai‘i International Music Festival. Co-founder Eric Silberger is a virtuoso violinist. 
     Native Hawaiian Maika‘i Nash is a collaborative pianist, coach and professor of opera. Monica Chung is a Kaua‘i based collaborative pianist and conductor. 
    Carmine Aufiero is a conductor, artistic director and principal conductor of TerpsiKord and Bel Canto expert.          Dr. Maya Sypert is a Mezzo-Soprano, Professor of Music, Associate Department Chair, and Undergraduate Studies Chair - University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa.
     Many of the students are also music professors and professional instrumental and vocal performers.
     See more at https://www.himusicfestival.com/.

WITH EXERCISING MORE AND LOSING WEIGHT AMONG TOP NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS,
the personal-finance website WalletHub named Hawai‘i's capital as the best city in the country for an active lifestyle. The worst is North Las Vegas, according to WalletHub.

   Second best is New York, followed by Chicago, San Francisco, San Diego and Las Vegas.
   To determine where Americans have the best chance of remaining active, WalletHub compared the 100 biggest U.S. cities across 35 key metrics. The data set ranges from the average monthly fitness club fee to the city's bike score to the share of physically inactive adults.
    According to WalletHub, "Honolulu is 2024’s best city for an active lifestyle, in large part because it promotes certain community sporting activities more than any other city. For example, it ranks first in the nation when it comes to baseball diamonds, skate parks, volleyball courts and tennis courts.
    "The island paradise feel of Honolulu makes it easy for outdoor recreation to flourish. Even if you’re not interested in traditional sports, the city’s proximity to the ocean allows for easy access to swimming and surfing, and it’s the top city for hiking trails as well.
    "Honolulu ranks third in the nation for air quality, too, so that will help your breathing while you engage in outdoor activities.
    "New York residents benefit from an extremely walkable layout, meaning they can exercise just by traveling to their day-to-day responsibilities and activities. Chicago is especially good for helping children stay active, with the highest availability of playgrounds in the nation relative to the population. San Francisco has one of highest shares of workers who bike or walk to work, and San Diego ranks as one of the best cities for sports clubs and hiking trails."
    Wallet Hub gave some advice: "Having an active lifestyle doesn't mean you need to have a monotonous gym routine. Try to discover activities that you genuinely enjoy, whether it's hiking, dancing, swimming, playing a sport, or simply walking around your neighborhood. Engaging in activities you love makes it more likely that you'll stick with them."
See the complete report at https://wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-cities-for-an-active-lifestyle/8817.


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Saturday, January 06, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Jan. 5, 2024

Sanctuary Ocean Count registration opens on Monday, Jan. 8 for volunteers to count the humpback
whales and other marine animals along the coast of Kaʻū and beyond. Photo from NOAA
KOHOLĀ, THE HUMPBACK WHALES, will be spotted during the Sanctuary Ocean Count events in Kaʻū and beyond on Jan. 27, Feb. 24, and March 30. Volunteers register in advance starting Monday, Jan. 8 at noon on the Sanctuary Ocean Count site at https://oceancount.org/.
      Since 1996, the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count has promoted public awareness about humpback whales, Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, and shore-based whale watching
Volunteers scouting for koholā (humpback whales) during the Hawaiian
 Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Ocean Count.
Photo by Paul Wong/NOAA
opportunities. Site leaders and volunteers tally koholā sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the surveys, which provides a snapshot of koholā activity from the shorelines of Hawai‘i Island, O‘ahu and Kaua‘i, Sanctuary Ocean Count is supported by the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation.
     The Pacific Whale Foundation conducts the Great Whale Count on Maui, on the same dates as the Sanctuary Ocean Count. More information can be found at https://www.pacificwhale.org/research/community-science/great-whale-count/.
    Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is administered by NOAA's Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources, and protects humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiian waters where they migrate each winter to mate, calve, and nurse their young.
    The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, established in 2000, is the official non-profit partner of the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation directly supports national marine sanctuaries by protecting species, conserving ecosystems, and preserving America's maritime heritage through on-the-water conservation projects, public education, and outreach programs.
    See more at Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary: http://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov. NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries: http://sanctuaries.noaa.gov and State of Hawai‘i Division of Aquatic Resources:    https://dlnr.hawaii.gov/dar/



MAUNAKEA COIN CONTEST IS OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS for youth grades K-12. The deadline to enter is Feb. 10. Entries can be dropped off at at KTA stores. Sponsors are Maunakea Astronomy, Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i,  KTA, University of Hawai‘i Hilo, Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, and East Hawai‘i Cultural Center.
   Students K to 12, including homeschooled children, are asked to make a drawing for a design that can go on a bronze collector’s coin. The coin will be available at the First Light Bookstore at the Visitor Information Station on Maunakea, while aluminum versions will be available at Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee events throughout the year. The designs submitted for each year’s contest represent Maunakea and include different aspects of the mountain: its natural resources, astronomy, and culture.
    Entries must use the 2024 Maunakea Coin Contest 2024 Design Sheet.
    Entries will be divided into grades K-4, 5-8, and 9-12 categories. Category judges will select a First, Second, and Third place winner for each of the three grade categories. 

    A Grand Judge will pick the top three overall winners, and the Top Winner will be announced at the annual AstroDay event in Hilo. The Top Winner will see his or her design on the 2024 coin. A bronze version of the coin will be available for sale, and aluminum coins will be distributed at outreach events in the coming year.
    The nine category winners and the best overall 3 entries will receive prizes from KTA Super Stores, the ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center of Hawai‘i, the Galaxy Garden/Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary, East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, and the Maunakea Observatories.
    When creating a coin design, students can get information about Maunakea by consulting the Maunakea Heritage and Natural Resources guide from the Center for Maunakea Stewardship, University of Hawai‘i at Hilo. Download the Design Sheet (PDF). Download the Contest Rules (PDF). Download the hi-res Poster (JPEG). With questions, email events@maunakeaobservatories.org.


Flights over Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park will be taken on Jan. 19 to detect Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and other incipient invasive species in Kahuku, between 2,000- and 4,500 ft. elevation. USGS Photo
FLIGHT OPERATIONS FOR HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK have been announced.
     January 8 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. for transporting sling loads and crew for invasive guinea grass control in the coastal backcountry from sea level to 2,400 feet.
     January 11 between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. for transporting sling loads and crew for invasive guinea and fountain grass control work between sea level and 4,000 ft. elevation from the park's west boundary to Keauhou.
     January 17 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. for survey and collection of aerial imagery to detect Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and other incipient invasive at the Kīlauea summit and ʻŌlaʻa, between 3,500- and 4,500-ft. elevation.
Invasive banana poka is the subject of an aerial search on Mauna Loa
 on Jan. 24. Photo from Invasive Species Council
    January 19 between 10 a.m. and 12 p.m. for survey and collection of aerial imagery to detect Rapid ʻŌhiʻa Death and other incipient invasive species in Kahuku, between 2,000- and 4,500-ft. elevation.
    January 23 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., for survey and control of invasive guinea grass along Keauhou Trail, between sea level and 2,400-ft elevation.
    January 24 between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., for survey and control of invasive banana poka on Mauna Loa, between 4,000- and 5,000 ft. elevation.
    USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
    A statement from the Park says that it "regrets any noise impact on residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather. Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities."





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Friday, January 05, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs Jan. 4, 2024

Hot Shot vehicles will help the County of Hawai‘i deliver hot and cold food to the elderly around the island,
says Mayor Mitch Roth. Photo from County of Hawai‘i
A SIGNIFICANT ENHANCEMENT IN THE PROGRAM TO DELIVER MEALS TO THE ELDERLY has been achieved through two state-of-the-art F-150 Ford Hot Shot vehicles acquired by Hawai‘i County. Federal and State funding helped pay for the specialized vehicles equipped with hot and refrigerated sections.
    Hawaiʻi County Nutrition Program will use them to serve the needs of Hawaiʻi Island's elderly population, with its approximately 430 home-delivered participants and an additional 620 congregate meal site participants across Hawaiʻi County.
    Heated and refrigerated sections of the vehicles are specially designed to maintain the required safety temperatures for food items during transportation. Hot meals will be kept at no less than 140 degrees Fahrenheit, while cold foods will be maintained at no higher than 45 degrees Fahrenheit at the point of delivery. Frozen meals will remain frozen (0 degrees Fahrenheit or below) from packing to the meal site or participant's home.
    Mayor Mitch Roth expressed his enthusiasm for these vehicles' positive impact on the community. He stated, "The acquisition of these specialized vehicles represents a significant investment in the well-being of our elderly residents. The ability to safely transport and deliver hot and cold meals is crucial to the success of the Hawaiʻi County Nutrition Program. As we navigate the unique challenges of our rural landscape, these vehicles will ensure that our seniors receive the nutritious meals they depend on."
       Hawaiʻi County, encompassing approximately two-thirds rural areas, has often faced logistical challenges in reaching all participants of the Nutrition Program. These new vehicles will address these challenges head-on, allowing the program to expand its reach, said a statement from the county, said the county statement. "The Hawaiʻi County Office of Aging remains committed to improving the quality of life for our elderly population and expresses sincere gratitude to the Federal and State agencies whose funding made this acquisition possible."


HPD ARRESTED 18 FOR DUI during the week of Dec 25 through Dec. 31. Hawai‘i Island police made the arrests for driving under the influence of an intoxicant. Eight of the drivers were involved in a traffic collision. Two were under the age of 21.
    In 2023, there were 954 DUI arrests compared with 979 during the same period in 2022. This is a decrease of 2.6 percent.
    Hawai‘i Police Department’s Traffic Services Section reviewed all updated crashes and found 843 major collisions so far this year compared with 846 during the same period last year, a decrease of 0.35 percent.
    In 2023, there were 14 fatal crashes, resulting in 15 fatalities, (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition; compared with 30 fatal crashes, resulting in 33 fatalities (one with multiple deaths, and one reclassified to a medical condition for the same time last year. This represents a decrease of 54.8 percent for fatal crashes and 54.5 percent for fatalities.
    There was one non-traffic fatality compared to 0 non-traffic fatalities (not on a public roadway) for the same time last year. HPD promises that DUI roadblocks and patrols will continue island-wide.

 JANUARY'S VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH ACTIVITIES feature a guided hike at the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park at 9:30 a.m. on Jan. 7, an After Dark in the Park Program on Kīlauea's recent summit eruptions in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at 7 p.m. on Jan. 9 and a "talk story" at Nāʻālehu Public Library from 1-4 p.m. on Jan. 10. The full schedule of programs offered on the Island of Hawai‘i as part of Volcano Awareness Month is available here.


SEPARATING SIGNALS. WHAT MATTERS TO SEISMOLOGISTS? That is the topic of this week's Volcano Watch written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates. This article was written by Research Corporation of the University of Hawai‘i seismic analyst Maddie Hawk.
A crew member from UH Advanced Seismology Department
Photo from UH
    Whether they originate above or below the Earth's surface, a wide array of signals appear on the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory's earthquake-detecting (seismic) data streams. Part of a seismic analyst's duty is identifying normal versus irregular seismic activity.
    Being able to distinguish between random signals and volcanically induced seismic activity allows USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory seismologists to keep a closer eye on what matters, the volcanoes.
    Seismic signals can be divided into two categories: natural Earth processes and anthropogenic, or human-caused, signals. The more stations that a signal reaches, the more likely it is that the signal originated due to underground Earth processes. For example, a strong enough earthquake will reach many, if not all seismic stations on the island. Conversely, if only a few stations close to each other record a signal, it is likely that the source is anthropogenic or not volcanically related (for example, a quarry blast or a rockfall).
    There are several common anthropogenic signals that HVO seismologists see daily. One of the most frequent and easiest to identify is helicopters. Sound waves from a flying helicopter are strong enough to affect seismometers on the ground. Although they might be hard to identify on a seismogram—which shows ground motion recorded over time by a seismometer as wiggly lines—helicopters are easily revealed in a spectrogram—which shows the frequency spectrum recorded by a seismometer over time.
Color plots of seismic data
The seismogram tracks 24 hours of signals at station WRM, just west of Halemaʻumaʻu crater at the summit of Kīlauea. Examples of spectrographic helicopter noise, a small VT event, and a larger VT event are given below the seismogram. USGS image

    Spectrograms use colors ranging from deep blue to red to represent the strength, or loudness, of a signal. The figure here shows a helicopter's noise recorded on a spectrogram in comparison with that of a few local earthquakes. The helicopter noise on the spectrogram is light blue, meaning it is much less intense than the strong red signal of the magnitude 3.17 earthquake.
    Other anthropogenic signals, like foot and vehicle traffic, can appear noisy and undiscernible, but they are still very different from volcanic seismicity. Within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, signals like these usually occur in high-traffic areas near seismometers but disappear at night.    
    The top half of the seismogram shown here (6:00 p.m.–6:00 a.m. HST) is much quieter than the bottom half (6:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. HST). This diurnal cultural noise, defined as noise from human activity repeated on a daily basis, can mostly be ignored. When analysts at HVO see a signal they don't recognize, it is helpful to note whether the signal occurred during daylight hours and how many stations "saw" the signal.
    The ability to identify and ignore anthropogenic noise allows seismic analysts to pay more attention to the signals coming from volcanoes. VT, or volcano-tectonic earthquakes, usually occur due to a slip on a fault in a volcano; the locations of these earthquakes can give us clues about changing stresses due to magma movement within a volcano.
The Volcanic Tectonic, VT earthquakes shown here record a sharp
  sudden arrival and tapering off, compared to anthropogenic
 seismicity, such as noise from helicopters and land traffic. 
    
    A typical local VT earthquake is easy to identify in a seismogram, with its sharp, sudden arrival and a tail that tapers off. A higher magnitude earthquake will appear deeper red on a spectrogram, while lower magnitude earthquakes range from green to yellow. Besides an earthquake's tell-tale shape, seismic stations across the island will record the same event if it is large enough. For example, a magnitude-3.5 earthquake originating below Kīlauea will show up a few moments later and slightly weaker at Mauna Loa seismic stations.
    Much like how scientists used to locate earthquakes using seismic wave travel times, HVO has an automated system that calculates the location and magnitude of each earthquake using information from as many stations as possible. However, there are sometimes errors associated with the automated system so HVO's seismic analysts check all events larger than around magnitude-2.
    Seismologists also cannot rely on the automated system to catch every signal. Magma and other fluids move around within the underground volcanic system, resulting in a sort of quiet gurgling very different from VT noise. Volcanically induced LP (long period) events are lower frequency, last much longer, and are less common than VT events. Though these signals are important to monitor, the movement of magma is not always an indication of an imminent eruption. When VT and LP events occur together, say below the summit of Kīlauea, seismologists at HVO might raise awareness of the potential for an eruption.
Volcano Activity Updates
    Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
    Unrest in Kīlauea's summit region continues to wax and wane with fluctuating input of magma to the area. An earthquake swarm on December 29-30 south of the caldera was accompanied by inflation shown on the Sand Hill tiltmeter—located southwest of the caldera—indicating a likely intrusive event in the area. The Uēkahuna tiltmeter—located northwest of the caldera—shows little net tilt over the past week. Unrest may continue to fluctuate and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate for the summit—approximately 80 tonnes per day—was measured on December 28.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL. Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
    Five earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 14 km (8 mi) S of Volcano at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Jan. 3 at 8:12 p.m. HST, a M2.9 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) SSW of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 10:54 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 8 km (4 mi) SSW of Honoka'a at 13 km (8 mi) depth on Dec. 30 at 9:47 p.m. HST, a M2.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) WSW of Waimea at 6 km (4 mi) depth on Dec. 29 at 11:34 a.m. HST, and a M4.4 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) SE of Pāhala at 12 km (7 mi) depth on Dec. 28 at 3:16 p.m. HST.





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