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Monday, January 02, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs, Monday, Jan. 2, 2017

A ranger at Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park helps educate visitors whose numbers surged in the park over the holidays. See story below.

KA`U'S MEMBERS OF THE U.S. SENATE AND U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES take their seats Tuesday, Jan. 3 when the 115th Congress convenes in Washington, D.C. Sen. Brian Schatz will serve on the Senate's Appropriations, Commerce, Science and Transportation, and Indian Affairs Committees. He will also serve on the Select Committee on Ethics. Sen. Mazie Hirono will serve on the Judiciary Committee, as well as the  Committees on Armed Services, Energy and Natural Resources, Small Business and Entrepreneurship, and Veterans' Affairs. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will serve on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and House Armed Services Committee.
U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz says he will fight for the environment as he joins Hawai`i's
congressional delegation Tuesday for the convening of the 115 Congress of
the United States. Photo from Brian Schatz
 All three are expected to fight for the environment and work to retain many aspects of Obamacare, Medicare and Medicaid, including health insurance for adult dependent children, and a prohibition against denying insurance based on preconditions. The Republicans and President-Elect Donald Trump have vowed to repeal Obamacare.
     On environmental issues, Sen. Brian Schatz is expected to fight to defend President Obama's declaration on Dec. 20, which put a permanent ban on offshore oil and gas drilling in large areas of the Arctic and Atlantic. "This is a major step toward protecting our oceans and reducing our dependence on fossil fuels," said Schatz.  The Hawai`i senator said that while Obama "called his action a permanent ban, Donald J. Trump, and a Republican Congress will be able to roll back some recent environmental regulations." 
       Schatz said he will do everything he can to block the nomination of climate change denier Scott Pruitt, named by Trump to head the Environmental Protection Agency. He called the nomination of Pruitt a "four alarm fire for the environmental community and anybody who cares about clean air and clean water." Pruitt has sued the EPA several times as Attorney General for Oklahoma, to overturn bans on such pollutants as smog, soot, arsenic and mercury. Schatz said Pruitt is "on the wrong side of science, on the wrong side of history." Schatz said Pruitt "is not qualified to lead the EPA."
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard will serve on the Armed
Services and Foreign Affairs Committees.
Photo from Tulsi Gabbard
Sen. Mazie Hirono will serve on the
Judiciary, Veterans Affairs, Armed
Services and more committees.
Photo from Mazie Hirono
    Schatz called the Pruitt nomination "a-historical" without any historical precedent. He noted that the Republican administrations of both Presidents Bush did not appoint  EPA administrators who intended to dismantle the EPA. Schatz called Pruitt "someone who has made a professional out of denying the science of climate change. This is someone who has made a profession out of undermining the ability of the EPA to enforce the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act." He said the "EPA has an obligation to administer the law. The Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act are still on the books. This is scary stuff."
     Concerning the Paris Agreement with nearly 200 countries signing on to policies that could reduce global warming and adopt clean energy,  Schatz said it would be sad for the U.S. to abdicate its world leadership in clean energy. He said China would like to take that lead and the U.S. could lose not only the moral high ground but also much business associated with producing clean energy.   
      Schatz said the U.S. Senate has 48 Democrats who could vote against Trump's EPA nomination and would need 51 votes against Pruitt to deny him the EPA post. Schatz said there are four or five Republicans who could cross over. He is asking them "to put their country first, to put the next generation first, to put the planet first and put partisan politics aside and reject the climate denier. ...Here's the litmus test for them: If you are not a climate denier, you can not vote for this administrator of the EPA," said Schatz.  
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The delta collapse at Kamokuna in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park on Dec. 31. Photo from NPS



THE COLLAPSE OF THE LAVA DELTA INTO THE OCEAN on New Years Eve at Kamokuna is drawing more analysis by U.S. Geological Service scientists, who are also issuing cautionary notices to onlookers.  
    They reported today that "The episode 61g flow is still active and entering the ocean at Kamokuna. Nearly all of the lava delta at Kamokuna collapsed into the ocean on Dec. 31. Also, a large section of the older sea cliff east of the lava delta collapsed into the sea. The collapsed part of the sea cliff extended about 180 m (590 ft) east of the delta edge, and cut inland about 70 m (230 ft) from the shoreline!
     "As a strong caution to visitors viewing the episode 61g flow ocean entry (where lava meets the sea), there are additional significant hazards besides walking on uneven surfaces and around unstable, extremely steep sea cliffs. Venturing too close to an ocean entry exposes you to flying debris created by the explosive interaction between lava and water. Also, the new land created is unstable because it is built on unconsolidated lava fragments and sand. This loose material can easily be eroded away by surf, causing the new land to become unsupported and slide into the sea. In several instances, such collapses, once started, have also incorporated parts of the older sea cliff.       
     "Prominent cracks observed in the surface of the relatively large eastern lava delta at Kamokuna indicate instability and an increased potential for larger collapse events. Finally, the interaction of lava with the ocean creates a corrosive seawater plume laden with hydrochloric acid and fine volcanic particles that can irritate the skin, eyes, and lungs."
     See  fact sheets for additional information: http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2000/fs152-00/
For comprehensive information on volcanic air pollution, see the vog dashboard at: www.ivhhn.org/vog/
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VISITATION TO HAWAI`I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK surged over the holidays. Parking lots at popular destinations like Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube), Jaggar Museum and Kīlauea Visitor Center were at capacity.  "With Kīlauea erupting from two locations, the park remains a powerful draw for visitors who want to see volcanic activity. As a result, the park is very crowded, especially during peak hours between 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.," said an HVNP statement.
     Chief Ranger John Broward said,  “We’ve had some visitors wait up to an hour to park, and we have park rangers working in traffic control. We remind everyone to please be patient and treat rangers and other drivers with respect and aloha.”      
     Park rangers offer these tips so all visitors have a positive and memorable time in the national park:
- Plan to arrive early and explore Nāhuku (Thurston Lava Tube) before 9 a.m. Not only is parking available, but the lava tube is often empty of people. Birdwatching at Nāhuku is best in the early morning. - Want to hike Kīlauea Iki Trail? This four-mile trek is one of the most scenic and popular trails in the park. Plan to hit the trail by 7 a.m., and be out by 10 a.m. - Drive and explore Chain of Craters Road. This historic and scenic road originates at the summit of Kīlauea and stretches 19 miles to Hōlei Sea Arch. Many overlooks, pullouts, and lesser-known hikes (Mauna Ulu, Pu‘uloa Petroglyphs) abound – and it’s an ideal way to avoid the crowds and see more of what the park offers. The Coastal Ranger Station at the end of Chain of Craters Road is the starting point for a 10-mile roundtrip hike to see lava enter the ocean at Kamokuna.
- Night owl or early riser? The best time to observe the glow from Halema‘uma‘u is before sunrise, or after 9 p.m., when most visitors have left. The park is open 24 hours a day. Visitors can see what Kīlauea is doing before arrival by checking the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcams.                            
- Jaggar Museum is the closest visitors can get to the summit eruption’s glowing lava lake, and it’s the park’s most popular spot after 5 p.m. (More than 8,000 people were counted one evening at Jaggar Museum during the holidays.) Those who can’t avoid peak hours, consider observing the glow from a less-crowded location, like Keanakāko‘i, ‘Akanikōlea (Steam Vents), or Kīlauea Overlook. From Kīlauea Overlook, it’s a short walk to Jaggar Museum along Crater Rim Trail, but bring a flashlight and a jacket.  
- Mauna Loa Road is well worth exploring during peak hours, especially in good weather. Kīpukapuaulu offers an easy, forested hike, and the views and birdwatching are excellent along the way to the Mauna Loa Overlook at 6,662 feet.
- Visit Kahuku. Kahuku is free, never crowded, and is open to the public every Friday, Saturday and Sunday of the month. Located on the mauka (inland) side of Highway 11 near mile marker 70.5 in Ka‘ū.
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34 YEARS AND COUNTING is the talk by Tina Neal, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist in Charge on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. She will discuss the ongoing eruption and etail the past year's activity at Kilauea Volcano. Free; park entrance fees apply.

KA`U COFFEE GROWERS MEETING is Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m., Pahala Community Center.






Sunday, January 01, 2017

Ka`u News Briefs, Sunday, Jan. 1, 2016


This lava viewing area is closed after a large section of the 26-acre delta fell into the ocean. It was created by a lava flow, then
hardened, then undercut by ocean waves and crashed into the water yesterday at Kamokuna. This image was taken on Dec. 25. 
NPS Photo/Janice Wei
A large plume of rock debris and gas emanates from the Kamokuna lava ocean entry within
Hawai`i Volcanoes NationalPark, yesterday, just moments after the lava delta began
to collapse. NPS Photo/Travis Delimont
NEW LAND FORMED BY KILAUEA VOLCANO crashed into the ocean at Kamokuna on New Years Eve. A large section of the 26-acre lava delta formed by the 61g lava flow collapsed into the water around 2:45 p.m., launching showers of volcanic rock into the air, and creating a flurry of large waves that eroded away a portion of the older sea cliff and viewing area.
     As a result, the Kamokuna ocean entry within Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park remained closed today as park rangers and USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists surveyed the area. Rangers on duty New Year’s Day reported that the former viewing area is gone, and that loud cracks continue to be heard throughout the unstable area.
     Although park rangers temporarily closed the Kamokuna lava viewing area last night, five visitors ducked beneath the white rope closure line and made a beeline for the coastal cliffs around 7 p.m. on New Year’s Eve. Eruption Crew Ranger Travis Delimont and a co-worker had to chase after them before they turned around. Within 15 minutes, the section of cliff where the visitors were standing crashed into the ocean.
     “It was a really close brush with death for them,” Ranger Delimont said. “Luckily, they finally listened to us and turned around in time,” he said.
     The lava viewing area will remain closed until it is determined safe to reopen. The County of Hawai‘i also closed the Kalapana access to the park.
      “Fortunately, there were no aircraft or boats reported in the area at the time of the collapse, nor were any visitors on the delta itself, which is closed for public safety,” said Park Superintendent Cindy Orlando. “Had anyone been close by on land, water or air, lives would have surely been lost,” she said.
     There is a temporary flight restriction of 1,000 feet above ground level at the Kamokuna ocean entry.
      Lava deltas are extremely hazardous volcanic features and are formed when lava enters the ocean and builds new land on loose and unstable substrate. In addition to the threat of collapse, lava entering the ocean produces a highly a corrosive plume of hydrochloric acid and volcanic particles that irritate the lungs, skin and eyes. Visitors are strongly urged to stay out of closed areas and heed all posted warning signs.  See additional images and video from the park's official Flickr site.
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Leo Norberte celebrates a banner harvest of Ka`u Coffee on
New Year's Eve. Photo by Julia Neal

KA`U COFFEE FARMERS celebrated New Year's Eve last night at homes throughout the district, which huge fireworks displays, celebrating a massive crop and good sales this season. Leo Norberte, who farms 30 acres in Moa`ula and Wood Valley, said pickers harvested 7,000 pounds on his busiest one day. His harvest is more than half done for the year and very
successful, he said.
      Norberte's coffee is sold under his own brand name, and to Starbucks and other buyers. He provides housing for pickers and his extended family does much of the processing. His wife Hermie, a retired Ka`u High School teacher does much of the bookkeeping and helps with the lab and packaging. Their JN brand is one of the most prosperous in Ka`u. Leo and Herme circle the island two to three times a week, delivering their coffee in person to stores from Waikoloa to Kona, Waimea and Hilo.
To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter.

GUN CONTROL ADVOCATE ROSS RAMMELMEYER, of Volcano, who sends out daily email on news of gun control and gun violence. is urging residents to start the New Year by supporting various gun safety organizations like the Americans for Responsible Solutions, led by Gabby Giffords and her husband, astronaut and retired Navy Captain Mark Kelly.  Giffords, a congresswoman from Arizona, was shot is the head and severely injured at a public function. She and her Kelly became leaders in gun control campaigns. "When gun violence prevention was on the ballot, we won," said Giffords and Kelly in a New Year's message to Rammelmeyer.
Mark Kelly and Gabby Gifford's work on gun safety, supported
by Ross Rammelmeyer, of Volcano. Photo from Americans
for Responsible Solutions
.
     Giffords is also the namesake of a new 421-long trimaran ship called the USS Gabrielle Giffords, which was delivered to the U.S. Navy on Dec. 23. "Courage comes in many, many forms - physical, mental, spiritual and political. Gabby has truly modeled courage and resilience," said Vice Admiral Phillip Cullom during the christening ceremony.
    Another organization supported by Rammelmeyer is Everytown for Gun Safety. Its News Year's message says, "We'll never stop fighting when our children's futures are at stake. (President-elect Donald's) Trump's election presents and unprecedented threat to that future---which is why we need to be ready on Day One of his presidency to fight back.
      "Gun extremists are afraid of losing their guns. We're afraid of losing our kids. You tell me who's going to win. This movement is not stranger to setbacks --and this past election is no different. Every time we've gotten knocked down, we've dusted ourselves off and picked each other up. Right now, we're (sometimes literally) pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps."
     Contract Rammelmeyer at rossrammelmeyer@hawaiiantel.net.
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VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETING is tomorrow, Monday, Jan. 2 at Ocean View community Center at 4 p.m. 939-7033.

KA`U COFFEE GROWERS MEETING is Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 6 p.m., Pahala Community Center.

34 YEARS AND COUNTING is the talk by Tina Neal, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist in Charge on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at Kilauea Visitor Center Auditorium at 7 p.m. She will discuss the ongoing eruption and etail the past year's activity at Kilauea Volcano. Free; park entrance fees apply.

www.kaucalendar.com

Saturday, December 31, 2016

Ka`u News Briefs, Saturday, Dec. 31, 2016



Kilauea Military Camp offers a New Year's Eve Toast until midnight and a brunch on New Years Day. See more below.
Photo from Kilauea Military Camp
NEW YEAR'S DAY MARKS A HIKE IN MINIMUM WAGES for anyone working in Hawai`i. The new minimum wage will be $9.25 an hour, with another hike on Jan. 1, 2018 to $10.10. The increases, over time were put in motion by the 2014 Hawai`i Legislature when the minimum was at $7.25. It went to $7.75 on Jan. 1, 2015 and $8.50 on Jan. 1, 2016. Next year ends the series of minimum wage increases and new legislation would be needed to continue minimum wage hikes.
       According to a story in this morning's Honolulu Star Advertiser, "The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations advocated for the increases partly on the premise that low-wage workers would spend most or all of the resulting additional income and stimulate economic activity, including more job creation."
Altres staffing reminds employers that the minimum wage increases tomorrow.
      With unemployment at 3 percent in Hawai`i, "higher pay for largely entry-level jobs is expected to bubble up to more skilled jobs as employers face pressure to keep higher-paid positions competitive," states the Advertiser. The paper pointed out that minimum wage employees earn far less than most of the workforce in Honolulu. "A full-time worker at a minimum-wage job would earn $19,240 a year. That's about one-fourth of the $70,400 annual median income for a single person in Honolulu last year."
      The Advertiser story also pointed to the Hawai`i Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice, which testified during wage-increase hearings that "thousands of low-income workers would benefit from higher minimum wages, especially given that the cost of living here is almost 60 percent more than the national average. Peter Mattson, a representative of nonprofit Partners in Care, said in written testimony that higher wages would help people escape poverty and homelessness. Patricia McManaman, director of the state Department of Human Services, said in 2014 that the four annual minimum wage steps were the right thing to do: 'It’s time for Hawai`i to ensure that (the) poorest of our wage workers can at least support their most basic needs.'” 
     See more at www.honolulu-advertiser.com.

Sen. Mazie Hirono
U.S. SENATORS ELIZABETH WARREN AND MAZIE HIRONO are teammates, according to a statement from Warren, issued on New Year's Eve:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren issued a statement saying
she and Mazie Hieono will stand up to
Donald Trump.   
     "There's only one way we're going to stop Donald Trump: By standing together. All of us. That's why I'm proud to stand alongside my friend, Sen. Mazie Hirono. Hard-working families in Hawai`i and all across the country can count on Mazie and me to fight for them in the U.S. Senate, every single day -- and to stand up to Donald Trump's dangerous policies that threaten America.
     "Mazie is one of my closest allies in the Senate, said Warren, calling on Hawai`i residents to look ahead toward Hirono's reelection.
     "Mazie and I both arrived in the Senate in 2013 at the start of President Obama’s second term. Since then, we've been allies on issue after issue -- fighting to advance comprehensive immigration reform, defend Obamacare, protect women's health, raise the minimum wage, and ensure equal rights for all Americans. And we're going to keep up that fight, with your help.
     "Over the past eight years, our country has made incredible progress. We have boosted the economy with more than 15 million new jobs, delivered quality, affordable healthcare to more than 17 million Americans, and fought to defend civil liberties for countless more.
     "But too many Americans still feel like the system is rigged for the millionaires and billionaires and giant corporations – and as Donald Trump prepares to take office (as much as it pains me to say that), that feeling will only get worse. All our progress hangs in the balance. We must fight to protect what we have won, and must fight our way forward," stated Warren.
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SEN. JOSHUA BOOTH GREEN, who represents west Ka`u into Kona in the Hawai`i Legislature, issued a News Year's Eve message this morning: "I want to wish you all a happy, healthy and safe New Year!"
    Looking toward the opening of the Legislature in January, he said, "As chair of the Human Services Committee, I will be focused on protecting our state's safety net. This includes addressing the homelessness crisis, increasing our capacity to help people who suffer with addiction and mental illness, and beginning the debate on implementing a living wage of $15/hr for Hawai`i's people."
    Considering federal government, with Donald Trump as President, Green said, "It is no secret that the new administration in Washington has a very different view of critical American programs like Social Security, Medicare and the stability of our healthcare system than many of us are accustomed to.  
      "I will do all that I can, using my experience as both a practicing physician and legislator, to fight for the survival of programs that make America strong and compassionate. Going forward, I will bring new ideas to the table for debate, so that Hawai`i can lead the nation on key emerging policy challenges."
     Green invites everyone to a Talk Story session on Jan. 5 at King Kamehameha Hotel in Kona from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. "so that I can continue to hear what is most important to you and your families."
      During the 2017 Hawai`i Legislature, Green will be located at the Hawai`i State Capitol, Room 407, 415 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96813. Email josh@joshgreen.org.
      Reviewing more than a decade of work in the legislature, Green said online,
    “Working together over the last 11 years, we have achieved extraordinary results for our community with over $1 billion committed to improve roads, schools, and hospitals in West Hawai`i, including:

 $90 million to begin building and ultimately complete a Kona Judiciary Complex, which will house 230 full-time employees and make our local justice system safer and efficient; 

over $20 million to build the new West Hawai`i Community College Campus at Palamanui, which will allow our students to pursue higher education at home and serve as an important educational resource for our entire community; 

over $150 million to expand Queen Ka`ahumanu Highway and other critical roads in the region, meant to decrease fatal, tragic accidents and long waits on the road,; and over $75 million annually from the Hospital Sustainability Act which we created together, to strengthen all of Hawai`i’s hospitals, including Kona Community Hospital, Ka`u Hospital, and North Hawai`i Community Hospital (now partnered with Queens Hospital, bringing more specialists to our Island).
    “

At your urging I have sponsored important new laws to care for Hawai`i's children, such as the 2015 mandates for insurance to cover autism and surgery for children with cleft palate. No state is more compassionate in its commitment to children's health needs now, and in 2014 we were named the healthiest state in the nation.”
      Concerning sustainability, Green said, “We have fought side by side against powerful special interests to protect our environment and I've supported renewable energy at every turn possible.

 All of these new projects and initiatives will create jobs, stimulate our economy, build our community and protect those who need us most to advocate for them for years to come. 

I am positive we will keep working together to achieve even greater results in the coming years, to make all of Hawai`i an even better place to live. Of course there is always more work to do.

”
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CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY is ongoing through the holidays at Volcano Art Center in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Free; park entrance fees apply.

VOTE FOR THE BEST DECORATED Kilauea Military Camp cottage through the holidays.

NEW YEAR'S DAY BRUNCH is this Sunday, Jan. 1 at Kilauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Cafe. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply 967-0835.