Ka‘ū News Briefs Sunday, January 14, 2018

Mangos can beautiful, like the ones displayed by the National Mango Board, above, or infected
like those shown below, displaying anthracnose disease. Read University of Hawai‘i's advice on
how to protect mango and other food trees. Photo from National Mango Board

CALLS FOR NEGOTIATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA after Saturday's false alarm of a ballistic missile headed toward Hawai‘i, were all over media on Sunday, largely promoted by Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. Some of the headlines are: New York Daily News - "Hawai‘i Rep. Gabbard calls for Trump to Negotiate with Kim Jong Un;" Yahoo News - "Hawai‘i Rep. Tulsi Gabbard: Trump and Kim Should Talk after False Alarm."
     Interviewed Sunday morning on CNN's State of the Union, Gabbard said that describing Saturday's scare as "traumatic" to the people of Hawai‘i and its visitors is an understatement. Such errors, accidents and misunderstandings could lead to an accidental nuclear war, Gabbard declared. "I have been calling on President Trump to directly negotiate with North Korea - to sit across the table from King Jon Un, work out the differences, so that we can build a pathway towards denuclearization to remove this threat."
      Gabbard is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, a veteran, and serves as a Major in the Army National Guard. She emphasized that negotiations should be without pre-conditions since North Korea sees keeping nuclear weapons as its only defense against a regime change. "North Korea is now in a position where Kim Jong Un is saying, 'No way, I’m not going to give up these nuclear weapons,' because he doesn't see that credible message coming from the United States that we don't - we're not interested in overthrowing your government. We're interested in removing this nuclear threat from our country and the world," said Gabbard on State of the Union with Jake Tapper.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

GOV. DAVID IGE ISSUED ON SUNDAY AN APOLOGY FOR THE FALSE INCOMING-MISSILE ALARM SENT TO CELL PHONES ON SATURDAY.  He wrote. "On Saturday, Hawai‘i's residents and visitors experienced an unfortunate situation that has never happened before and will never happen again – a false alert issued by the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency that a ballistic missile was on its way to the Hawaiian Islands.

     "On behalf of the State of Hawai‘i, I deeply apologize for this false alert that created stress, anxiety and fear of a crisis in our residents and guests. I can personally assure each and every resident

and visitor that steps have already been taken by the Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency to ensure that a situation of this type never happens again.

     "The Hawai‘i Emergency Management Agency is committed to protecting the people of Hawai‘i, and over the past year it has been taking responsible measures to prepare for the highly unlikely event of a missile attack. As a state government, we must learn from this unfortunate error and continue to prepare for any safety threat to Hawai‘i's residents and visitors – whether it is a man-made threat or a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tsunami.

    "In the next few days, I will continue meeting with our emergency preparedness team and personally talking with families, individuals and leaders from around our state to ensure we reach every household. We must also do what we can to demand peace and a de-escalation of tensions with North Korea. Again, on behalf of the State of Hawai‘i, I apologize for yesterday's events and any hardship and inconvenience this created for you, your family and loved ones."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY DEMOCRATIC PARTY is setting its agenda, and Chair Margaret Wille asks citizens to serve on Legislative Priority Huis and to come to precinct meetings, Wednesday, March 7.
     The Economic and Social/Cultural Wellbeing Committee is expected to work on the:
          Protect Workers focus: $15 minimum wage by 2020;
          Protect Students focus: Raise quality of education;
          Protect Kupuna focus: Death with Dignity rights with appropriate assurances that each person

Big Island Democratic Party Chair Margaret Wille, a former County
Council member, encourages everyone to join committees and to go
to precinct meetings on March 7 to help set the party platform.
 Photo from Big Island Video News

is making choice of own free will;
       Protect Local Farmers focus: Coffee Truth in Labeling; monitor cannabis legislation; and
       Protect The People focus: Affordable health care.
       The Environmental Wellbeing Legislative Committee is expected to work on the:
       Protect Marine Life focus: Ban oxybenzone (harms coral and other marine life);
       Climate Crisis focus: Prevent degradation of the sensitive ecosystems/mitigation;

       Pesticide/Herbicide Restriction focus: Establish buffers around sensitive areas, facilities. 

     Precinct meetings with elections are set for Wednesday, March 7, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Precinct Officers and Delegates to the county and state conventions will be selected to create the County and State Party Platforms. Area locations for the precinct meetings are: Precincts 5, 6, & 7 - Volcano Art Center; 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd, Volcano. This year will mark the first time in 30 years that the Democratic Party State Convention will be held in a place other than on O‘ahu. It will be at the Waikoloa Hilton on May 25 and 26.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A FUNDRAISER FOR KA‘Ū VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS has reached $500 in donations. It is sponsored by Raina Whiting, who is running for the House of Representatives in West Ka‘ū and Kona. 

     Whiting writes, "The men and women who volunteer their time to keep the Nā‘ālehu and Pāhala communities safe deserve our support. In the past couple of months, they have responded to two large, multi-day fires by volunteering their time.

     "I would like to use the money raised to stock up their fire house with water bottles, snacks and a few extra fire shirts for times when they have to respond quickly.

     "Please join me in supporting the brave women and men that volunteer for our community," states Whiting on the fundraising site https://www.facebook.com/donate/218531162021536/

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ANTHRACNOSE, A FUNGAL PATHOGEN MOST COMMONLY ASSOCIATED WITH MANGO, can also affect other fruiting plants such as banana, avocado, papaya, coffee, and more, according to University of Hawai‘i

Mango anthracnose, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, can also
affect other fruits grown in Hawai‘i. Photo by Scot Nelson

Kona Cooperative Extension Service and Research Station. Wet, humid, and warm weather conditions favor anthracnose, Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, infections in the field.

     On mango, anthracnose symptoms occur on leaves, twigs, petioles, flower clusters (panicles), and fruits.     Visit flickr.com/photos/scot
nelson/8292071578/in/photo
stream for photos by Scot Nelson of anthracnose (and powdery mildew, Oidium mangiferae) on mango.

     Anthracnose and powdery mildew control methods differ, though symptoms may appear similar. Submit samples to the U.H. Agricultural Diagnostic Service Center to identify the pathogen responsible for symptoms you see on your tree or fruits. The cost is $12 per sample for a general disease diagnosis.

Image from U.H. C.T.A.H.R.

     "During this time of year, early control is critical for reducing the inoculum and spread of these diseases within trees and throughout the farm. Field sanitation – the removal and destruction of diseased fruit, branches, and old panicles in the tree and on the ground – help to decrease the amount of latent and active fungal spores that may contribute to further disease infestation," says U.H. CTAHR Extension Agent Andrea Kawabata. Learn more about these diseases, their symptoms and methods of control by visiting ctahr.hawaii.edu
/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-48.pdf for mango anthracnose and ctahr.hawaii.edu/oc/freepubs/pdf/PD-46.pdf for powdery mildew.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

VOLCANO ART CENTER ANNOUNCES AUTHOR SUSAN M. SCHULTZ will teach a Documentary Poetry writing workshop on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at  Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. Poets and non-poets are invited to learn techniques to create documentary prose or poetry.

Photo from Volcano Art Center

    The event description says, "Documentary poetry is a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events, as well as expresses political, social or cultural issues. In Joseph Harrington’s essay, Docupoetry and Archive Desire, he defines documentary poetry as poetry that contains quotations from or reproductions of documents or statements not produced by the poet and relates historical narratives, whether macro or micro, human or natural."
     The workshop begins by discussing some readings from documentary poetry, such as Donovan Kuhio Colleps's Proposed Additions. Students are asked to bring such documents as a family photograph, a sketch/plan of a house, instructions for working a familiar machine, a neighborhood map, and the definition of the name of a street.

     The workshop involves writing about the photograph, street name, and other personal documents, and the bringing together of the private and public materials. In the final step, participants will discover how private lives intersect with public histories.

English Professor and Author Susan M. Schultz on left.
Photo from hawaii.edu

     Schultz is a professor of English at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and has lived in Hawai‘i since 1990. She is author of many books of poetry and poetic prose, including two volumes of Dementia Blog (Singing Horse Press), as well as Memory Cards. She has also authored a book of literary criticism and edited two others. She founded Tinfish Press, which publishes experimental poetry from the Pacific.
     The class is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A BADMINTON PROGRAM FOR ADULTS at Ka‘ū District Gym in Pāhala begins with registration starting Tuesday, Jan. 16. Badminton will be held Mondays and Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., starting Jan. 22 and ending Feb. 27. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Director Nona Makuakane or Technician Elijah Navarro at 928-3102, or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

THE KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM RECREATION ROOM FITNESS STATION is open in Pāhala to members of the public, ages 15 and older. Public use hours are Saturday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7:45 p.m., until Sunday, March 31. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Director Nona Makuakane or Technician Elijah Navarro at 928-3102, or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū.
     Wednesday, Jan. 17, @ Kohala.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Girls Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A FEE-FREE DAY IS OFFERED AT HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - no entrance fees will be collected at any fee-charging National Parks on Monday, Jan. 15. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS on Monday, Jan. 15, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

PAINTING WITH PEGGY, an acrylic painting class with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton is set for Monday, Jan. 15, from noon to 3 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. It is part of an ongoing series of workshops for artists of all levels headed by Stanton. The class is $15 for VAC members and $20 for non-members per session. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

KĪLAUEA SUMMIT ERUPTION: STORY OF THE HALEMA‘UMA‘U LAVA LAKE is presented on Tuesday, Jan. 16, starting at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory geologist Janet Babb, co-producer and co-writer of the recently released USGS documentary, introduces the 24-min film. After the show, USGS H.V.O. geologist Matt Patrick provides an update on what's happening at Halema‘uma‘u today, and answers questions about the summit eruption. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WINE & WATERCOLOR takes place Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Artist Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques in watercolor painting. Sampling of several wines from Hilo wine store "Grapes" is included. Class fee is $30 for Volcano Art Center members and $35 for non-members, plus a $17 supply fee. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org.

HAWAIIAN RANCHOS ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. MEETS Wednesday, Jan. 17, starting at 4 p.m., in the Hawaiian Ranchos office. For more, call 929-9608 or visit ranchos-road.org.

A VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Come and view informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. For more, call 939-7033, visit ovcahi.org, or email askHVO@usgs.gov.

WEAVE A TĪ LEAF LEI Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Hear park rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff share knowledge and love for one of the most popular lei in Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov
/HAVO.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME is hosted Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS AN ‘Alalā Outreach Presentation on Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

Learn more about the most recent efforts to reintroduce the ‘Alalā to Hawai‘i.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITY takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is for keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 19, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - hand-blown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

BUNCO & POTLUCK takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring a dish to share. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discoveryharbour.net.

Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café.
Photo from kilaueamilitarycamp.com

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.

THE ART EXRESS, a monthly class, is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Saturday, January 13, 2018

The massive Mauna Loa Volcano (foreground) could somewhat shelter Ka‘ū from a nuclear blast on O‘ahu. On
Saturday, a false alarm, warning of an incoming ballistic missile, went out over cell phones across the state. 

KA‘Ū COULD BE SOMEWHAT SHELTERED FROM A NUCLEAR BLAST HITTING O‘AHU, by the density of the massive Mauna Loa Volcano between there and here. Ka‘ū residents, nevertheless, responded to the mistaken State of Hawai‘i Civil Defense alert and scare on Saturday morning.

     At 8:07 a.m., it blared over cell phones and read "Ballistic Missile Threat Inbound to Hawaiʻi. Seek Immediate Shelter. This Is Not A Drill." After the scare was over, nearly an hour later, some residents on the floor of an Aikido class in Ocean View talked about making plans for a real threat: Take shelter in lava tubes which are abundant in Ka‘ū. Wait out the blast in the lowest level of a building, preferably an area made of concrete, then move to the highest floor available since fallout stays close to the ground. Prepare to stay indoors for days to lessen exposure to radiation, and stockpile food for weeks in the place that a family would stay.

     It was acknowledged that any threat should be taken seriously, even with the 13,680-foot-tall Mauna Loa acting as a wall between Ka‘ū and O‘ahu, the most likely island to be targeted, with its Pearl Harbor and other military installations.
     Another recommendation: During an alert, don't look toward O‘ahu. The intense light from a blast could rise over the top of Mauna Loa and burn the eyes, more damaging than looking directly into the sun.
     The response to the mistaken ballistic missile alert on Saturday was quick from Ka‘ū's representatives in Congress. Rep. Tulsi  Gabbard, at 8:19 a.m., was perhaps the first to spread the word that the alarm was false. She tweeted, "Hawai‘i - This is a false alarm. There is no incoming missile to Hawaiʻi. I have confirmed with officials there is no incoming missile."
     Concerning the overall nuclear missile threat from North Korea, the Congresswoman spoke on CNN, where she pounded the Donald Trump administration. She said that Hawaiʻi residents "live with this reality of this message popping up on their phones." She said Pres. Donald Trump is "taking too long. He's not taking this threat seriously. There's no time to waste."
     Later, Gabbard spoke on MSNBC, saying, "We've got to get rid of this threat from North Korea. We've got to achieve peace, not play politics, because this is literally life and death that is at stake for the people of Hawaiʻi and the people of this country."

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard has been encouraging dialogue with North
Korea for years, as in this past interview on CNN.

     In a series of tweets, the Congresswoman said: "The people of Hawaiʻi just got a sense of the stark reality of what a nuclear strike on Hawaiʻi would be. Cell phones all across Hawaiʻi got a message saying a ballistic missile is incoming, take shelter. Over a million of Hawaiʻi people were faced with the immediate reality of having 15 minutes to find a place to 'take shelter,' wondering where do I go? What shelter is going to protect me and my family from a nuclear bomb?! But there’s nowhere to go, nowhere to hide.
     "Everyone in American needs to understand that if you had to go through this, you would be as angry as I am - I have been talking about the seriousness of this threat for years," tweeted Gabbard.
     "Our leaders have failed us for decades, refused to take this threat seriously and prevent a nuclear North Korea, and the people of Hawaiʻi are now paying the price.
     "Donald Trump is taking too long," tweeted Gabbard. "Now is not the time for posturing. He must take this threat seriously and begin direct talks with North Korea, without preconditions, to deescalate and

denuclearize the Korean peninsula. There is no time to waste.

     "The people of Hawaiʻi should never have had to go through this. The people of America should not be faced with this threat right now.
     "We need peace - not political bickering. We have to talk to North Korea and find a peaceful path to get rid of this nuclear threat."
     Sen. Brian Schatz said he talked with representatives of the military Pacific Command on O‘ahu and the FCC, and all agreed to collaborate with the state to make sure a false alarm does not happen again. "This system failed miserably and we need to start over," he tweeted.

     County of Hawaiʻi Civil Defense withheld sending out the mistaken warning of an incoming nuclear missile strike and declined to sound off the neighborhood sirens. Instead, the local Civil Defense alerts on Saturday covered the high surf.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

On January 8, 2018, Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake level was 38 m (125 ft) below the rim of Overlook Crater,
the small crater that formed above the active vent in Halemaʻumaʻu. The lava lake continuously emits elevated
levels of sulfur dioxide gas and erupts small, but measurable, amounts of Pele's hair and other ash-sized tephra
(airborne lava fragments) that accumulate on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu (lower right) and areas downwind of the lake.

USGS Photo by J. Sutton

VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH SEES HAWAI‘I VOLCANO OBSERVATORY answering the question: What makes the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u rise and fall?

     Here is this week’s Volcano Watch, written by the USGS Volcano Observatory scientists:
     About a year ago, the lava lake within Halema‘uma‘u at Kīlauea Volcano’s summit was high enough that spattering on the lake surface was commonly visible from the Jaggar Museum overlook in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Although nighttime glow from the lava lake remains impressive, direct views of spattering lava are now less common, because the lake level has gradually dropped since that time.
     The lake level is constantly changing, and it fluctuates over many different timescales, from minutes to months. So what causes the lake level to rise and fall?
     To answer this question, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists have been closely observing the lava lake behavior and making careful, regular measurements of the lake level. A key to understanding the processes that control lake level is to compare the lake level measurements to other monitoring parameters, such as gas emission rates, ground tilt, and seismic tremor. Direct visual observations of lake activity are also essential.

A ranger looks over the crater. NPS Photo by Janice Wei

     With several years of such data, the scientists can show that the lake level is related to two main factors: magma chamber pressure and gas emission rates.
     Magma chamber pressure is the main control on the lava lake level. On a day-to-day basis, the lake level rises and falls in concert with the volcano's deflation-inflation cycles. Deflation results in lava levels dropping as much as 20 meters (yards) over several days, with inflation leading to lake level rise.
     Over longer time periods, such as months to years, magma chamber pressure is affected by the rate of magma supply from deeper levels. For example, an apparent increase in magma supply rate in early 2016 caused the volcano to inflate slightly and drove the lake higher. The decline in the lake level over the past year might relate to a slight decrease in magma supply rate.
     The close correlation between magma chamber pressure and lava lake level means that the lake can be thought of as a "barometer" for the underlying magma chamber.
     The lake provides a tool for judging the pressure state of the volcano, which is potentially useful for anticipating future eruptive events on Kīlauea's rift zones. For example, the lake rose to high levels just before the March 2011 Kamoamoa fissure eruption near Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on the volcano's East Rift Zone.
     The pressure of the summit magma chamber also determines the rate at which magma is flowing to Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō on the East Rift Zone. Higher lake levels in Halema‘uma‘u normally mean elevated lava supply rates at the Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō vent, and potentially more vigorous lava flows. So tracking the lake level can be another tool for forecasting lava flow hazards on the East Rift Zone.

A high level of lava at Halema‘uma‘u. NPS photo

     Gas emission rate is the other main control on the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake level. Increases in the gas emission rate from the lake relate to increases in the amount of spattering on the lake surface. Releasing more gas from the lake results in a slight drop in lake level, normally of a few meters (yards). Unlike the lava level changes due to magma chamber pressure, these gas-driven changes normally occur over much shorter time periods, ranging from minutes to hours.
     HVO scientists normally measure the lake level with a handheld laser rangefinder, but new tools for tracking lava lake level are on the horizon. University of Cambridge scientists are currently testing a radar system to continuously measure Kīlauea's summit lava lake level with high precision. Stereo cameras are also being tested this month to track the lake level, as well as changes in crater and lake dimensions.
     The level of the Halema‘uma‘u lava lake is a simple indicator of the pressure state of Kilauea's magma chamber, and the lake provides a "window" for peering into the volcano’s interior. The lake has provided another useful tool to add to HVO’s monitoring toolbox.
     Speaking of Halemaʻumaʻu, the public is invited to attend a Volcano Awareness Month presentation on Kīlauea Volcano's summit eruption on Jan. 16 in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. On Jan. 17, a "talk story" event focused on Mauna Loa will be held in the Ocean View Community Center. The Volcano Awareness Month schedule and program details are posted on HVO's website (volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo/), or you can email askHVO@usgs.gov or call 808-967-8844 for more.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū DISTRICT GYM IN PĀHALA WILL BE OPEN TO ADULTS for Volleyball from Thursday, Jan. 18, to Tuesday, Feb. 27, on Mondays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Director Nona Makuakane or Technician Elijah Navarro at 928-3102, or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

Various activity programs for adults are available at Ka‘ū District Gym.

RECREATION ROOM GAME TABLES at Ka‘ū District Gym in Pāhala are open to public use (12 years and older) until Sunday, March 31. The program hours, Saturday through Thursday, are 3 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. For more, contact Hawai‘i County Parks and Recreation Technician Director Nona Makuakane or Technician Elijah Navarro at 928-3102, or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, Pāhoa
@ Ka‘ū.
     Wednesday, Jan. 17, @ Kohala.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Girls Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA is the title of an easy, one-mile, ranger-led walk scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower. The walk is free to attend. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A FEE-FREE DAY IS OFFERED AT HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - no entrance fees will be collected at any fee-charging National Parks on Monday, Jan. 15. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

No entrance fees are charged at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on
Monday, Jan. 15. Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

DISCOVERY HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS on Monday, Jan. 15, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

PAINTING WITH PEGGY, an acrylic painting class with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton, is set for Monday, Jan. 15, from noon to 3 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. It is part of an ongoing series of workshops for artists of all levels, headed by Stanton. The class is $15 for VAC members and $20 for non-members per session. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

KĪLAUEA SUMMIT ERUPTION: STORY OF THE HALEMA‘UMA‘U LAVA LAKE is presented on Tuesday, Jan. 16, starting at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. USGS Hawai‘i Volcano Observatory geologist Janet Babb, co-producer and co-writer of the recently released USGS documentary, introduces the 24-min film. After the show, USGS H.V.O. geologist Matt Patrick provides an update on what's happening at Halema‘uma‘u today, and answers questions about the summit eruption. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

Make lei from tī leaves on Wednesday in Volcano. See event details below.
Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF WINE & WATERCOLOR takes place Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Artist Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic techniques in watercolor painting. Sampling of several wines from Hilo wine store "Grapes" is included. Class fee is $30 for Volcano Art Center members and $35 for non-members, plus a $17 supply fee. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

A VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Come and view informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. For more, call 939-7033, visit ovcahi.org, or email askHVO@usgs.gov.

Hawaiian Ranchos Road Maintenance Corp. meets Wednesday.
Photo from ranchos-road.org

WEAVE A TĪ LEAF LEI Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hear park rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff share knowledge and love for one of the most popular lei in Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

HAWAIIAN RANCHOS ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. MEETS Wednesday, Jan. 17, starting at 4 p.m., in the Hawaiian Ranchos office. For more, call 929-9608 or visit ranchos-road.org.

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS AN ‘Alalā Outreach Presentation on Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME is hosted Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPU-
AULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 19, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.

HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - hand-blown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The pieces will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, January 12, 2018

Humpback whales will be counted the last Saturday of January, February, and March at four sites
from Miloli‘i through Ka‘ū into Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from NOAA

NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARY FOUNDATION named Tiare Turan Holm as Hawaiʻi Director on Thursday, Jan. 11. She will manage the Foundation’s work in Hawaiʻi to support Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

     On the agenda in Ka‘ū is the annual Sanctuary Ocean Count on the last Saturday of January, February, and March at Punalu‘u, Ka Lae and Miloli‘i, during peak humpback whale season from 8 a.m. to noon. See story below to volunteer. 

Tiare Holm, new Hawaiʻi Director of the National Marine
Sanctuary Foundation. Image from Palau Wave Radio

     The new Director of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation has more than two decades of experience managing conservation programs in Palau and the Pacific Islands region, working with government and NGOs at the local, regional, and international levels. Previously, she served as Executive Director of the Palau Conservation Society - where her work led to the expansion of nation-wide protected areas - and the Micronesia Challenge, a region-wide commitment to effectively conserve at least 30 percent of nearshore marine and 20 percent of terrestrial resources. She also served as Founder and Principal of Sustainable Decisions, a private firm that played a leading role in the establishment and management of the Palau Marine Mammal Sanctuary, as well as the development of Palau’s national climate change policy.

     Kris Sarri, President and CEO of the Foundation, said that “Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary and Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument are part of our nation’s conservation legacy. With 25 years of experience leading conservation teams, programs and organizations in the Pacific Islands region, Tiare is committed to marine protected areas and sanctuaries as a cornerstone for marine conservation." 

Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary is a focal point for winter whales in Hawaiʻi. 

The new Director of the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation for Hawai‘i is Tiare Holm, who will raise money for its efforts. 

     Sarri said, "The Foundation is proud to partner with N.O.A.A.’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries to support education and community stewardship programs to raise awareness about the uniqueness of these marine protected areas and the need to maintain them for future generations.”

     With roots in Hawaiʻi, Holm is a graduate of Maui High School and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She is also a SCUBA diver and outrigger canoe coach.

     The National Marine Sanctuary Foundation is the chief non-profit partner for the National Marine Sanctuary System. The Foundation focuses on conserving areas of national significance in America’s ocean and Great Lakes by engaging citizens and communities in education, research, and on-the-ground conservation work. Learn more about the National Marine Sanctuary Foundation at marinesanctuary.org. 

Take advantage of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park's fee-free day and
view the parks attractions with no entrance fees charged on Jan. 15.
See event details below. Photo from nps.gov/HAVO

     Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, which is administered by a partnership of N.O.A.A.’s Office of National Marine Sanctuaries and the State of Hawai‘i through the Department of Land and Natural Resources, protects humpback whales and their habitat in Hawaiian waters where they migrate each winter to mate, calve, and nurse their young. Learn more at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.

     Papahānaumokuākea is cooperatively managed to ensure ecological integrity and achieve strong, long-term protection and the perpetuation of Northwestern Hawaiian Island ecosystems, Native Hawaiian culture, and heritage resources for current and future generations. Four co-trustees - the Department of Commerce, Department of the Interior, State of Hawai‘i, and the Office of Hawaiian Affairs - protect this special place. Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument was inscribed as the first mixed (natural and cultural) UNESCO World Heritage Site in the United States in July 2010.  Learn more at papahanaumokuakea.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

COUNTING HUMPBACK WHALES IS ON THE AGENDA for Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. The viewing sites have been announced to count humpback whales and other marine life during peak whale season, the last Saturday of January, February, and March from 8 a.m. to noon.

     The four locations, from Miloli‘i to Volcano, are:

     Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park, where the viewing sites are sea level to 20 feet, is described by a Marine Sanctuary statement for its bathymetry: "The shoreline at this site is composed of sea cliffs, 3-10 m above sea level. Offshore submarine bottoms are composed of basalt pavement or consolidated rock bottom or outcrops, as well as some massive boulders. The bottom drops off to approximately 15-75 ft. at a distance of 50 m offshore."
     Ka Lae Park, where the bathymetry is described as "composed of sea cliffs, 3-10 m above sea level. Offshore submarine bottoms are composed of basalt pavement or consolidated rock bottom or outcrops, as well as some massive boulders. The bottom drops off to approximately 15-75 ft. at a distance of 50 m offshore."

     Miloli‘i Lookout bathymetry is "composed of very low outcrops, abrasion ramps, benches, and is approximately at sea level. Offshore submarine bottoms are composed of basalt pavement with massive boulders, cobbles, basalt or limestone rubble, and small boulders. The bottom drops off to approximately 30-50 ft. at a distance of 100 m offshore."

     Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park whale counting site is at Ka‘ena Point and is reached by following the signs for Chain of Craters Road. Proceed to the end of the road. Site is located 100 yards from the main road, over lava rock field. The elevation is 30 - 40 feet, a bluff looking to the southeast with a 180 degree view.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SEN. MAZIE HIRONO ANNOUNCED $770,000 FOR WATERSHEDS on Friday. "The USDA funding supports the State of Hawai‘i’s goal of protecting 30 percent of Hawai‘i’s watershed forests by 2030," says a statement from her office. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's investment aims to protect and improve Hawai‘i’s watersheds "and will help enhance the health of our state’s unique ecosystems,” said Hirono.

     The Hawai‘i Watershed Initiative supports projects that move forward the state’s goal of protecting 253,000 acres of Hawai‘i’s highest priority watershed forests by 2030. Some of the largest and most pristine native forest and watershed areas in the state are in Ka‘ū.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

PETITIONING CONGRESS TO RENEW THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH INSURANCE PROGRAM is another campaign of Sen. Mazie Hirono. On Friday, she wrote, "Over the holidays, many families got an unwelcome surprise: a letter warning them that they may lose their children’s health insurance coverage, simply because Congress has failed to fully reauthorize the Children’s Health Insurance Program. The GOP’s failure to fund CHIP, a bipartisan program that affords children lifesaving care, is just another example in a long line of attacks on our health care by Trump and the GOP."

     Hirono said that nearly nine million children are counting on CHIP and asked for people to 

 "Sign the petition to fund children’s health insurance now."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION HOSTS AN ADOPT-A-HIGHWAY road cleanup along the stretch of Hwy 11 the organization adopted many years ago, between mile markers 78 and 79 from “about Mehe’s to Leilani,” reports Ocean Views and News.
     The 2018 first quarter road cleanup takes place on Tuesday, Feb. 6, starting at 8:30 a.m. Bags, water, and vests will be provided, but volunteers are advised to “wear work gloves and sun protection,” says Ocean Views and News.
     To join the effort, contact Pat at mcmathorama@gmail.com for information regarding where to meet and to supply a shirt size “or, just show up along that stretch of highway at 8:30 that day wearing your own reflective vest,” says Ocean Views and News. For more, call 939-7033.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITY has been announced to take place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is for keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at 

 kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januaryevents.html. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 13, @ HPA.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
     Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).

Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 13, @ Konawaena.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
     Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.

Boys Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, Pāhoa @ Ka‘ū.
     Wednesday, Jan. 17, @ Kohala.
     Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

Girls Basketball: Monday, Jan. 15, @ HPA.
     Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.

Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
     Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A ZENTANGLE CLASS FEATURING THE ZENDALA - TWIRLING LEAVES takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The class blends inspiration from nature with traditional Zentangle patterns and is suitable for beginning or returning tanglers. The class fee is $30 for Volcano Art Center members and $35 for non-members, plus a $10 supply fee. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

BIRTH OF KAHUKU, a free, easy-to-moderate, guided hike traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations, on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore the rich geologic history of Kahuku, and learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. For more, visit
nps.gov/HAVO.

A NEW EXHIBIT AT VOLCANO ART CENTER GALLERY,
Passage and Place, showcases Big Island artist Heather Mettler's hand-blown, chiseled, and etched glasswork. The display will be open to the public from Saturday, Jan. 13, to Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.

A SILK PAINTING WITH WAX RESIST WORKSHOP is led by Patti Pease Johnson on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. The class combines batik methods with the art of Serti silk painting to create a representational piece of art, i.e. wall hanging. The workshop fee is $45 per Volcano Art Center member and $50 per non-member, plus a $10 supply fee per person. Beginner and intermediate artists are welcome. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Saturday, Jan. 13, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. The event will take place again on Jan. 19 and 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.

BINTI BAILEY AND LARRY SEYER WILL PERFORM AT TWO JAZZ IN THE FOREST concerts with Jean Pierre Thoma and the Jazztones on Saturday, Jan. 13, with a matinee from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., and an evening performance from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Almost Like Being in Love is the theme, with love songs from around the world. Tickets are $18 for Volcano Art Center members and $20 for non-members. Purchase tickets online at volcanoartcenter.org.

A PANCAKE BREAKFAST will be held on Saturday, Jan. 13, from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

‘ŌHI‘A LEHUA is the title of an easy, one-mile, ranger-led walk scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about the vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and the many forms of the ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower. The walk is free to attend. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

A FEE-FREE DAY IS OFFERED AT HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - no entrance fees will be collected at any fee-charging National Parks on Monday, Jan. 15. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH MEETS on Monday, Jan. 15, from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

PAINTING WITH PEGGY, an acrylic painting class with Margaret "Peggy" Stanton, is set for Monday, Jan. 15, from noon to 3 p.m., at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village. It is part of an ongoing series of workshops for artists of all levels, headed by Stanton. The class is $15 for VAC members and $20 for non-members per session. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.

DISCOVERY HARBOUR VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT MEETS Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon, at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. For more, call 929-9576 or visit discoveryharbour.net.

USGS HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY GEOLOGIST MATT PATRICK PROVIDES AN UPDATE on Tuesday, Jan 16, on what's happening at Halema‘uma‘u today, and answers questions about the summit eruption after USGS H.V.O. geologist Janet Babb introduces a 24-minute film she co-wrote and co-produced. The recently released USGS documentary will be shown at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The After Dark in the Park presentation, entitled Kīlauea Summit Eruption: Story of the Halema‘uma‘u Lava Lake, is free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

LEARN HOW TO TRANSFER A PHOTO ONTO WATERCOLOR PAPER at The Wonderful World of Wine & Watercolor on Tuesday, Jan. 16, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Volcano Art Center in Volcano Village. Artist Nancy DeLucrezia introduces basic techniques in watercolor painting. Class fee is $30 for Volcano Art Center members and $35 for non-members, plus a $17 supply fee. Sampling of several wines from Hilo wine store “Grapes” included. Register online, volcanoartcenter.org.

HAWAIIAN RANCHOS ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. MEETS Wednesday, Jan. 17, starting at 4 p.m., in the Hawaiian Ranchos office. For more, call 929-9608 or visit ranchos-road.org.

A VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Come and view informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. For more, call 939-7033, visit ovcahi.org, or email askHVO@usgs.gov.

WEAVE A TĪ LEAF LEI Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hear park rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff share knowledge and love for one of the most popular lei in Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.

THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS an ‘Alalā Outreach Presentation on Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū meets Thursday. See event at right.
Photo by Julia Neal

HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.

STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME is hosted Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.