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Saturday, April 04, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, April 4, 2020

The late Uncle Chris Bengay is memorialized in a mural on the Pāhala Senior Center building, shut down
 temporarily during the pandemic. Click the photo to read the message, or see the wording below.
 Photo by Julia Neal
THE COUNTY NUTRITION PROGRAM FOR SENIORS shut down at Pāhala, Nāʻālehu and other locations around the county. Under the program, seniors came together at the Pāhala Senior Center and Nāʻālehu Community Center at 10:30 a.m. on weekdays for an early lunch. Many took home the hefty offerings for their dinners.
     The closure of the service in the time of COVID-19 is due to the possibility that seniors will bring the virus to the senior center, after being infected by family members and friends who wouldn't even know if they have it. The county Office of Aging is considering ways to provide take-out for the seniors, perhaps frozen meals that can be picked up, five at a time, perhaps once a week.
     A sign on the front door of Pāhala Senior Center says, "Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Pāhala Senior Center will be closed from Monday, March 30 through Thursday, April 30, 2020. For assistance, call 928-3101 or 928-3200. The office will be closed for walk-ins in order to maintain safe conditions for our Seniors and Staff.
     "The Governor's Stay-at-Home order is in effect and you are encouraged to follow the guidelines,
     "Stay at home, except for necessary food shopping.... Take care and Be Safe!"
     The Senior Centers are also closed for all other activities, including ʻukulele playing and singing, dancing, exercising, and other classes and socializing.
Dancing was a regular activity, along with ʻukulele and singing, at Pāhala Senior Center.
Photo by Julia Neal

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CHANGING HOTELS AND PUBLIC PLACES TO MEDICAL FACILITIES drew the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' technical survey team to five places on Hawaiʻi Island last Wednesday, April 1. The mission was to assess and plan for conversion. The state directed the Engineers to Hilo and Kona. The Army Corps of Engineers issued a press release:
Army Corps of Engineers visits hotels and public sites to analyze their
possible use as hospitals during the pandemic. 
Photo from Army Corps of Engineers
     "Our District and engineering assessment team is fully engaged in providing engineering solutions as fast as possible for our state and federal partners in response to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Lt. Col. Kathryn Sanborn, Honolulu District commander. "This analysis provides essential information to the state so they can make informed decisions about next steps for the health and wellness of the community."
     Jeff Herzog, assessment team leader, said, "During site evaluations we are evaluating structural soundness, square footage, potential bed capacity and isolation space, electrical, plumbing, HVAC systems, as well as the feasibility of creating a negative-pressure environment. The data collected provides the state with information on facility capabilities."
     Following the April 1 presidential declaration that a major disaster exists in the state of Hawaiʻi, federal funding is now available to the state, should leaders decide to move forward with USACE-related emergency support measures.
Hotels and public buildings may convert to hospitals soon.
Photo from Army Corps of Engineers 
     Sanborn said, "Currently, we are doing technical planning and site assessments in partnership with FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the state and counties. We remain an option for additional support, including construction and other technical assistance, through FEMA mission assignment should the state request it."
     USACE is prepared to assist the nation in times of crisis and is working with the White House, Department of Defense, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other federal, state, and local partners in response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The FEMA mission assignments are intended to provide support nationwide to address possible medical facility shortages.
     Overall, USACE has received 15 FEMA mission assignments totaling approximately $1.2 billion, and has more than 15,000 personnel engaged in the response effort and providing support.

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DAILY COVID-19 UPDATE: Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reports ten active cases of COVID-19 on Hawaiʻi Island as of Saturday, April 4. One is new since yesterday, 13 have recovered, two have left the island. None have been hospitalized and none have died. None have been from Volcano or Kaʻū.
     The state Department of Health reports 351 cases statewide, with 32 reported today. There have been four deaths, all on Oʻahu. The man who died this morning was a 65-year-old from east Oʻahu. He may have been exposed to a traveler from out of state.
     According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has recorded 312,146 cases. The death toll is more than 8,500. The people recovered number nearly 15,000.
      Johns Hopkins counts more than 1,203,100 people as victims of COVID-19. The death toll is 64,774. The recovery total is 246,893.
     There are cases reported in over 200 countries.

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A SMALL BUSINESS VIRTUAL TOWN HALL will be held Monday, April 6 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on Zoom. Space is limited; registerat EventBrite. A link with meeting info is sent after registration is complete.
     Organized by The Hawaiʻi Business Consultancy, topics will include Small Business Association Disaster Loan Programs; Hawaiʻi's economic outlook; how to apply for assistance; and what resources there are to support small businesses. Participating agencies include the U.S. Small Business Administration; state Department of Business, Economic Development, & Tourism; Hawaiʻi Technology Development Corp; Hawaiʻi Economic Association; Small Business Development Center; Pacific Islands Small Business Development Center Network; U.S. Commercial Service; Hawaiʻi Pacific Export Council; and Hawaiʻi Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations.

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HAWAIʻI STATE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVE OFFICES ARE CLOSED through April 30, to all but necessary workers, due to concerns over COVID-19 spread. House Speaker Scott Saiki stating the extension is to maintain consistency with Gov. David Ige's "stay at home" order. A member of the state Senate tested positive for COVID-19 in March.
     Under the closure order, representatives determine their own office hours and staffing needs based on their respective circumstances. Staff who remain at home are asked to work from home.
     Kaʻū's Representatives and Senators can still be contacted:
     Sen. Dru Kanuha – who represents west Kaʻū up through Kona – can be reached at 808-586-9385, repkahuna@capitol.hawaii.gov, or at facebook.com/SenatorKanuha.
     Sen. Russell Ruderman – who represents east Kaʻū, Volcano, into Hilo – can be reached at 808-586-6890, repruderman@capitol.hawaii.gov, or at facebook.com/senator.russell.ruderman.
     Rep. Richard Creagan – who represents west Kaʻū up through Kona – can be reached at 808-586-9605, repcreagan@capitol.hawaii.gov, or at facebook.com/DocCreagan.
     Rep. Richard Onishi – who represents east Kaʻū, Volcano, into Hilo – can be reached at 808-586-6120 or repcreagan@capitol.hawaii.gov.
     Go to capitol.hawaii.gov/members/legislators.aspx?chamber=H for other contact information.

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FARMERS CAN APPLY FOR GRANTS from American Farmland Trust through Friday, April 23. The first grants are expected to start going out on Friday, May 1. American Farmland Trust's Farmer Relief Fund will award farmers with cash grants of up to $1,000 each to help them weather the current storm of market disruptions caused by the coronavirus crisis.
     Initially, eligible applicants include any small and mid-size direct-market producers, with annual gross revenue of between $10,000 and $1 million from sales at farmers markets and/or direct sales to restaurants, caterers, schools, stores, or makers who use farm products. Applicants will be asked to estimate their financial loss.
     Apply for the Fund.
    From farmland.org/farmer-relief-fund: The coronavirus pandemic is impacting businesses that rely on direct contact with their customers, including farmers and ranchers that primarily sell their products through farmers markets and to restaurants, schools, and other institutions. In fact, a new report estimates that local and regional food systems could lose up to $1.3 billion between just March and May of this year. To help directly support farmers impacted by the current crisis, American Farmland Trust is launching a new Farmer Relief Fund. 100 percent of donations to the fund go directly to farmers. "Because it's simple: No Farms No Food."

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PALM SUNDAY WILL BE CELEBRATED VIRTUALLY in churches tomorrow, April 5th, including the presentation on St. Jude's Episcopal Church Worship webpage. Everyone is invited to check the worship page for services for Maundy Thursday, good Friday, and Easter Sunday, and also to read a Special Edition of Talk Story.

KAʻŪ HIGH & PĀHALA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ALUMNI members announced today that the next reunion may be postponed until later in the year. The decision will be made in May and depend on whether it will be safe to travel and gather by the proposed date. The reunion is held annually in Las Vegas. Questions can be directed to Neal Kanda, nkkanda2@gmail.com or 808-284-1066.

Storybook Theatre, this time last year, teaching at the old Pāhala Gym. See storybook.org. Photo by Julia Neal
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
     A year ago today, Storybook Theatre of Hawaiʻi had just wrapped up its marine science and cultural presentations to school children in Kaʻū. This year, the annual presentations in 39 classes on four islands are postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
     Storybook Theatre founder and Captain Mark Jeffers sends out a message:
     "Let's just take a moment to remember our children and their journey in today's world. They are learning and growing at each moment, and we are their helpers, providing them with safety, support, and our love.
     "Each day for them is an opportunity to gain deeper understanding of themselves, their friends and family members, and the world around them.
Storybook Theatre in 2017 with Tūtū & Me inside Pāhala Community Center.
Photo by Julia Neal
     "My decision to 'scuttle' this year's Marine Eco Tour of our new inflatable Orca and Baby that has been visiting your schools was very easy to make because of the circumstances that surround all of us at present. Luckily, I am blessed with a good imagination, so I am already thinking of next school year and hopefully, the great times we will be having: learning with your students about the wonderful marine world of our island. home...
      "I am proud to be a small part of the great profession of Early Childhood Education in Hawaiʻi. I believe we are providing the greatest service to the community by our work and vision for young people looking forward to the generations to come."
     See Storybook Theatre online at storybook.org. and see Storybook Theatre videos at storybook.org/russells-youtube-links-family-fun-videos.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
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.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of April.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED for the month of April, to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, except for exercising, picking up food and medicine and traveling for medical care. Essential workers are allowe to leave home for their jobs.
      A  l4- day quarantine is required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted, except for essential service worker.
ONGOING
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary weekdays through at least the end of April. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

 The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:
     The Ocean View location for April, scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 will be at Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Community center parking lot, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, instead of at St. Jude's Episcopal Church, 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
     The Nāʻālehu location is Sacred Hearts Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.
     The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on the last Thursday of the Month at 11:30 a.m. Call 933-6030.
     The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on the last Thursday of the month at 3:30 p.m. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

A Free Dinner for Those in Need is served at Volcano Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road every Thursday, by Friends Feeding Friends, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

On Call Emergency Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is operated by The Food Basket. Call 808-933-6030.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, April 13. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.
     Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.
     Distribution in the Nāʻālehu area is at Nāʻālehu Elementary, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour Community Center. Distribution in Ocean View is at the county's Kahuku Park, the area in front of Malama Market, and Ocean ViewCommunity Center.
     At Nāʻālehu Elementary, campus pick-up will be from 9 a.m - 9:20 a.m. for A-H; 9:20 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. for I-P, and 9:40 a.m. - 10 a.m. for Q-Z.
     The Waiʻōhinu pick-up: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.
     The Discovery Harbour Community Center pick-up: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Morning distribution at Kahuku Park: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Evening distribution at Kahuku Park: 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.
     Times for distribution in front of Malama Market are: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Times for distribution at Ocean View Community Center are 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.
     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.
     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.
     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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Friday, April 03, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, April 3, 2020

Pacific oceanic whitetip shark is the subject of a law suit to protect it. See more below. Photo by Kaikea Nakachi
THE THIRD COVID-19 DEATH IN HAWAIʻI was reported Friday. An ethnobotanist, Dr. Art Whistler, 75, was known for his expertise in Hawaiian and Pacific plants and forests, having worked in Hawaiʻi, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Micronesia, Niue, Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Yap, Chuk, Guam, and the Northern Marianas. He taught at University of Hawaiʻi, and worked at the National Tropical Botanical Gardens on Kauaʻi and at Bishop Museum. He wrote numerous books and papers about wild and domestic Pacific plants, documenting their use for food, medicine, fiber, and ornamentation. He helped plan forest restoration and preservation in the National Park of American Samoa and other places in the Pacific. Read more here.
Dr. Art Whistler was an expert in Pacific
forests and plants and their restoration.
Photo from University of Hawaiʻi
     Whistler and the other two victims who died from COVID-19 in Hawaiʻi lived on Oʻahu. Whistler recently visited Washington state; he had been hospitalized in critical condition on life support for several weeks after returning to Oʻahu. The first to die recently traveled to Las Vegas. The second's travel history is under investigation.
     Gov. David Ige said, "Today, our community received more tragic news of the passing of a third Hawai‘i resident from the COVID-19 virus. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of this individual. Together, with all of Hawai‘i, we share their loss and express our deepest sympathy and support.
     "This is the second Friday of my statewide state-at-home mandate. I know this is not getting easier. As I have said before, unfortunately, it is going to get worse before it gets better. With the number of positive COVID-19 cases in Hawai‘i increasing every day and the heartbreaking loss of three of our fellow residents, we all need to remain vigilant and do our part in stopping the spread of this virus and flatten the curve in our state."
     The Oʻahu count has risen to 237; Maui (including Molokaʻi) to 36, Hawaiʻi Island to 20, and Kauaʻi to 13. The state reported 306 confirmed victims on Friday; 49 of them recovered.
     Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense reported this morning that none of the victims on this island have been hospitalized. Its own count put the total at 24, with 13 recovered and cleared by the state Department of Health, and two having left the island. The remaining nine are quarantined at home and monitored by DOH.
     The state is clamping down further on inbound travel to Hawaiʻi. Any visitor who arrives without a place to stay and quarantine for 14 days will be sent back to the mainland. Ige said the rule was established after learning some homeless people were arriving.
     According to Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. has recorded 277,965 cases. The death toll in the U.S. is more than 7,100. The recovery number is 9,863.
     Worldwide, more than 1.1 million people have become victims of COVID-19. The death toll is 58,929. The recovery total is 226,669. There are cases reported in 181 of 195 countries.

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 comparison chart of how well a wearer is protected, using different materials against particles five times smaller than the novel coronavirus. Image from smartairfilters.com
THE COUNTY, STATE, AND CENTER FOR DISEASE CONTROL RECOMMEND WEARING MASKS IN PUBLIC as of today. Mayor Harry Kim and Gov. David Ige, in separate news releases, endorsed the voluntary use of facemasks in conditions where social distancing is difficult, like at grocery stores, pharmacies, and while picking up food. All three official channels emphasize that N-95 and surgical masks should be reserved for use by medical professionals and first responders. Ige and CDC guidance emphasize that the six-foot physical "social distancing" remains the most effective means of containing community spread. Masks are primarily considered an infection source control measure, designed to keep sick people from spreading their germs, and are not a substitute for stay-at-home orders. Masks are also less effective than frequent handwashing, avoiding touching the face, and staying away from people who are ill.
     CDC states the recommendation change is due to recent studies that show "a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms." Those who are asymptomatic or who eventually develop symptoms (pre-symptomatic) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms, states the CDC. "This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity – for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing – even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms."
     Kim said wearing masks in Hawaiʻi county is voluntary, "and it would be to protect each other from Coronavirus. As Dr. John Martell of Hilo Medical Center says, 'Let's all protect each other.'" Kim recommended everyone wear a mask when leaving home and encountering others. He said masks can be made from household items, old clothing, or bandannas. For more on how to make a fabric face mask, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.
     Health Director Bruce Anderson said, "Many of us may be walking around unaware that we may be carrying coronavirus, and when we cough, sneeze, and to a lesser degree, even speak, cloth masks can block infectious droplets and prevent the virus from spreading. Protection of others is maximized when facemasks are used. However, it is important to avoid touching your face when wearing and adjusting a mask. Remember, my facemask protects you and your facemask protects me.
     "There is no need to wear a cloth mask when you're outdoors and not in close proximity to anyone else. Being outside in fresh air is good for us, and there is no risk of being infected as long as you're not around other people. So, we encourage people to walk, run, and surf… as long as you practice good physical distancing. Don't hesitate to remind others to do the same," said Anderson.
     CDC states cloth face coverings "fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost" can be used as "an additional, voluntary public health measure."
     See cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html for video instruction on how to construct a no-sew cloth face mask.
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html
See U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams instruct on how to make a no-sew cloth face mask. CDC image
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PROTECTING OCEANIC WHITETIP SHARKS is the aim of a lawsuit filed Thursday by Earthjustice on behalf of Conservation Council of Hawaiʻi. It seeks to enforce protections for a dwindling shark species that has roamed the oceans for millions of years. The lawsuit is also on behalf of Michael Nakachi, a Native Hawaiian cultural practitioner and owner of a local scuba diving company. It aims to force the National Marine Fisheries Service to take long-delayed action to protect oceanic whitetip sharks. A statement from Earthjustice say that "for Nakachi, the shark has been his family's sacred protector for generations."
     Oceanic whitetip sharks were historically one of the most abundant sharks in the world's oceans, but due to both U.S. and international fishing pressure, the population has declined significantly. Scientists estimate that in the Pacific Ocean alone, oceanic whitetip populations have declined 80 to 95 percent since the mid-1990s. Despite years of data showing that thousands of sharks are still killed as bycatch in Pacific fisheries each year, the Fisheries Service has failed to declare that Pacific oceanic whitetip sharks are overfished. This declaration would trigger protective action by the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council.

     "No protections exist to prevent fisheries from capturing oceanic whitetip sharks as bycatch," said Moana Bjur, Executive Director of Conservation Council for Hawaiʻi "That needs to change if we are to prevent this incredible apex predator from going extinct. That's why we're going to court."
     Listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act since 2018, oceanic whitetip sharks are no longer targeted by long-liners in the U.S or by most commercial fisheries worldwide. However, thousands continue to die each year because they are accidentally caught in nets, lines, or other gear meant to catch different species - such as tuna and swordfish - in the waters off Hawaiʻi and American Samoa. Over the past decade, long-liners operating in the Pacific Ocean have captured an estimated 20,000 oceanic whitetip sharks as bycatch.
     "It's time for the government to stop preventable shark deaths," said Nakachi. "As a kahu manō (guardian to the shark) I feel a personal responsibility to speak up on this issue, but I believe we all share a duty to ensure the survival of this sacred animal."
     As the lawsuit points out, in making the determination to list the oceanic whitetip shark as threatened in 2018, the Fisheries Service recognized the overfished status of the species and concluded that due to "significant and ongoing threats," the oceanic whitetip shark is "on a trajectory towards a high risk of extinction in the foreseeable future."
     The suit asks the court to order the Fisheries Service to make proper notifications that "would trigger necessary protections as expeditiously as possible, and no later than 30 days after this Court's order."
Michael Nigachi and Hawaiʻi Conservation Council are suing to protect the Oceanic whitetip shark.
 Photo by Michael Ashton
     The purpose of the Magnuson-Stevens Act is to "take immediate action to conserve and manage the fishery resources found off the coasts of the United States." Congress enacted the Magnuson-Stevens Act to "prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks [of fish]." Prompt action is required under the Magnuson-Stevens Act to "prevent overfishing and rebuild overfished stocks [of fish]."
     Roaming widely, the mobile, solitary oceanic whitetip shark lives in warm, tropical, and sub-tropical waters around the world. At the top of the marine food chain, oceanic whitetip sharks are long-lived and slow-growing. A female oceanic whitetip can take nine years to reach sexual maturity. Females give birth to live young, with an average litter of six pups. A female's reproductive cycle is slow, typically only giving birth every other year after a lengthy gestation period of 10 to 12 months.
     "The oceanic whitetip shark's unique biology, coupled with the preventable threat of getting accidentally hooked or trapped in fishing gear, means that it is past time for the federal government to do its job and take swift action to protect this species," said Earthjustice attorney Brettny Hardy.

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Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island served up its first free meals in Kona Thursday, after opening earlier in Hilo.
CEO Chad Cabral says the club will work its way into Kaʻū. Photo from Boys & Girls Club
BOYS & GIRLS CLUB IS COMMITTED TO KAʻŪ nutrition for children, according to CEO Chad Cabral. He said the organization is hoping to expand its free meal service to Kaʻū, after opening in Hilo and Kona. On Thursday, it launched its kitchen and community meal support operations in Kona, serving up chili and rice plates. Friday's menu is shoyu chicken.
     Cabral gave the report: "Our West Hawaiʻi staff have been working tirelessly to get this Community Meal Support initiative up and running to support their community. We are starting with 200 individually plated and sealed hot meals each evening that will go to support our most vulnerable populations located throughout West Hawaiʻi. We hope to build the funding capacity to be able to provide up to 500 meals daily and expand our efforts towards supporting South Kona, Ocean View, and into Kaʻū."
     The Kona efforts will go to support youth that are a part of West Hawaiʻi's State and County operated family housing programs, the children residing at Ulu Wini, Kona based homeless shelters, and kūpuna. All meals continue to be free.

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NO MASS RELEASE OF PRISONERS FROM HAWAIʻI ISLAND, or other county jails and prisons around the state, is the order from the Hawaiʻi Supreme Court, handed down on Thursday. Administrators of the state and county prison system report no finding of COVID-19. The decision followed an appeal by the Public Defender to release prisoners to prevent an outbreak.
     The Supreme Court order said, "This court declines to enter a blanket order releasing large numbers of inmates," and ordered a study to consider "competing public health and safety concerns and to ensure that social distancing measures are being or can be effectuated within the state's jails and prisons for the safety of the inmates, the staff and the public." It states that "a collaborative effort should first be undertaken."
     The order, signed by all five Hawaiʻi Supreme Court justices, would consider, after the study, that some intermittent inmates, such as those allowed to go home on weekends, to be released. The judges reasoned that the weekend prisoners could be bringing COVID-19 into the jails, posing a risk to other inmates, who live in crowded facilities where distancing is difficult. The weekend inmates also pose a risk to prison personnel.
     The court selected retired Intermediate Court of Appeals Judge Daniel R. Roley to serve as special master to work with stakeholders to develop a report by April 9. It will analyze the prospect of releasing some prisoners, while keeping the community and the jail population safe.
 Gov. David Ige asked Pres. Donald Trump to approve temporary transfer of state inmates to federal facilities on Oʻahu, but has not receveid a response. The state has a long-standing contract to temporarily house inmates at the federal facility, but it currently is not accepting inmate transfers, even though it is not at full capacity.

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COVID-19 TESTS BY BAY CLINIC AND PREMIER MEDICAL GROUP will take place this Sunday, April 5 from
8 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Hilo Hoʻolulu Complex. A cosponsor is the County of Hawaiʻi COVID-19 Task Force. Access only through the Piʻilani/Hinano Street entrance.
     This free clinic is open to the public. However, individuals must first undergo a screening to determine if they meet the criteria to be tested. Clinic physicians on site will make the determination regarding testing. The screening criteria will be based on guidance of the CDC and the state's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
     People who visit the screening clinic will be asked to show photo ID. Additionally, people are requested to bring their own pen, and any health insurance cards they have, although insurance is not required. For more information, please call Civil Defense at 935-0031. Bay Clinic also offers other health services in Nāʻālehu.

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KĪLAUEA MILITARY CAMP WILL STAY CLOSED through at least May 31.

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HVO LOOKS TO THE PAST to better understand future Mauna Loa eruptions in this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
     Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on Earth, has erupted, on average, every 5–6 years during the past 3,000 years.
     Eruptions on Mauna Loa occur at the summit of the volcano, typically within Moku‘āweoweo, the caldera atop Mauna Loa, along one of the volcano's two rift zones (Northeast Rift Zone or Southwest Rift Zone), or from radial vents outside the caldera and rift zones on the volcano's north and west flanks.
     Since 1843, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times. Of these historic eruptions, about half started at the summit of the volcano and stayed in the summit area, defined as above 12,000 feet (about 3660 m) elevation. Twenty-four percent of the eruptions started at the summit and then, within minutes to days, migrated down the Northeast Rift Zone. Twenty-one percent started at the summit and then migrated to lower elevations along the Southwest Rift Zone. Around 6 percent of the eruptions occurred at radial vents, but those historical eruptions also had a summit component.
During the 1926 Mauna Loa eruption, an ʻaʻā flow about 457 m (1500 ft) wide and 9 m (30 ft) high headed straight
 for the village of Ho‘ōpūloa on April 18, as shown here. By the next day, the lava flow had destroyed a dozen
houses,a church, and the wharf, and had nearly obliterated the bay.
Photo by Army Air Corps, 11th Photo Section
     Mauna Loa will erupt again. Although an eruption is not imminent, the USGS HVO keeps a close watch on the volcano.
     To track changes on Mauna Loa, HVO has an extensive network of instruments on the volcano, including seismometers, tilt meters, Global Positioning System (GPS) stations, and Web cameras, as well as temperature, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide sensors. These remotely located instruments transmit real-time data to HVO 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
     With volcanic eruptions and other geologic events, the past is the key to the future. So, to understand what might happen during the next Mauna Loa eruption, HVO looks to the past.
     Given what we know about past Mauna Loa eruptions, we expect that the next one will begin at the summit of the volcano. Unfortunately, it's not possible to know if the next eruption will stay at the summit, if it will migrate down one of the rift zones, or if it will result in a radial vent eruption. That will only be revealed as the eruption progresses and we are able to track the movement of magma within Mauna Loa.
     To learn from the past, we look back at this month in history—Mauna Loa eruptions that occurred in April.
     In 1942, Mauna Loa's "secret" eruption began on April 26. With World War II underway, news blackouts were imposed on Hawaii. American officials feared that if the eruption was publicized, Japanese military could use the bright glow of lava at night to guide warplanes to the islands. The eruption began on the western rim of Mauna Loa's summit caldera but then migrated down the volcano's Northeast Rift Zone. By the time it ended on May 9, lava had reached within 11 km (6.8 mi) of upper Waiakea Uka.
     Mauna Loa's third longest summit eruption in recorded history began on April 7, 1940. Lava fountains 20–60 m (65–200 ft) high initially erupted along a line of fissures extending from near the center of Mauna Loa's summit caldera to an area down the volcano's southwest flank. By the next evening, the eruption, which lasted 134 days, was restricted to the southwestern part of the caldera. There, active vents built a 100-m (330-ft) high cinder-and-spatter cone, which remains a prominent landmark on the caldera floor today.
An aerial view of the prominent 1940 cinder-and-spatter cone on the floor of Mauna Loa's summit caldera. The
cone, about 100 m (330 ft) high, was built during a 134-day-long eruption that began on April 7, 1940. Most of the
caldera floor around the cone is covered by lava flows erupted in 1984. USGS photo
     On April 10, 1926, an eruption began at the summit of Mauna Loa, but fissures soon migrated 5 km (3 mi) down the volcano's Southwest Rift Zone. Three days later, the eruption migrated farther down the rift zone, with three main vents between 8,000 and 7,400 feet (2440–2255 m) elevation sending massive ʻaʻā flows downslope. The main flow rapidly advanced toward the sea, where it destroyed the small village and harbor at Hoʻōpūloa on April 18. This short-lived, but destructive, eruption ended on April 26.
     In 1896, a 16-day-long summit eruption on Mauna Loa began on April 21. Another Mauna Loa summit eruption started on April 20, 1873, and lasted 18 months, leading Missionary Titus Coan to remark that "the great marvel of this eruption is its duration."
     We encourage all island residents to stay informed about Mauna Loa. Like us, the more you know about the volcano's past, the better you can prepare for future eruptions.
     Volcano Activity Updates
     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL; volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html. Kīlauea updates are issued monthly. Kīlauea monitoring data over the past month showed no significant changes in seismicity, sulfur dioxide emission rates, or deformation. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continued to slowly expand and deepen.
     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
     This past week, about 47 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper elevations of Mauna Loa; the strongest was a magnitude-2.1 earthquake on the northwest flank. Monitoring data showed that slow summit inflation continued and fumarole temperature and gas concentrations on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable.
     ​Two earthquakes with 3 or more felt reports occurred in the Hawaiian Islands this past week: a magnitude-3.1 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) W of Pāhala at 36 km (22 mi) depth on March 27 at 2:16 p.m., and a magnitude-3.2 earthquake 16 km (10 mi) S of Fern Acres at 6 km (4 mi) depth on March 25 at 04:54 p.m.
     HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
     Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 6,250 mailboxes 
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on 
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
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Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of April.

MOST EVENTS ARE CANCELLED for the month of April, to stem the spread of the novel coronavirus. The state is under a stay-at-home order, with l4 days of quarantine required for anyone coming into the state. Interisland travel is restricted. Those in Hawaiʻi should stay at home unless needing to obtain food or medical care.

ONGOING
Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary weekdays through at least the end of April. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.


The Food Basket Food Pantries Distribution, where families can receive 14 days of food per family:
     The Ocean View location for April, scheduled for Tuesday, April 14 will be at Hawaiian Ocean View Estates Community center parking lot, 92-8924 Leilani Circle, instead of at St. Jude's Episcopal Church, 11 a.m to 1 p.m.
     The Nāʻālehu location is Sacred Hearts Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy, under their Loaves and Fishes program, on the second and fourth Thursday of the month from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Call 928-8208.
     The Pāhala location is Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street, distributed by the ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Pantry, on the last Thursday of the Month at 11:30 a.m. Call 933-6030.
     The Volcano location is Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on the last Thursday of the month at 3:30 p.m. Call Kehau at 443-4130.

A Free Dinner for Those in Need is served at Volcano Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road every Thursday, by Friends Feeding Friends, between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

On Call Emergency Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It is operated by The Food Basket. Call 808-933-6030.

The Next Learning Packet and Student Resource Distribution for Nāʻālehu Elementary School Students will be Monday, April 13. The packets are designed for learning at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, and can be picked up every two weeks. One family member may pick up for several students in the same family. Students need not be present for the learning resources to be retrieved. Please note the grade of each child. Distribution times are organized by the first letter of the student's last name at the site closest to their home. Supplies will be given out simultaneously.
     Everyone is asked to observe social distancing rules, staying 6 feet away from others during pick-up. See the school website, naalehuel.hidoe.us, for more information and updates.
     Distribution in the Nāʻālehu area is at Nāʻālehu Elementary, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour Community Center. Distribution in Ocean View is at the county's Kahuku Park, the area in front of Malama Market, and Ocean ViewCommunity Center.
     At Nāʻālehu Elementary, campus pick-up will be from 9 a.m - 9:20 a.m. for A-H; 9:20 a.m. - 9:40 a.m. for I-P, and 9:40 a.m. - 10 a.m. for Q-Z.
     The Waiʻōhinu pick-up: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.
     The Discovery Harbour Community Center pick-up: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Morning distribution at Kahuku Park: 8 a.m. - 8:20 a.m. for A-H, 8:20 a.m. - 8:40 a.m. for I-P, and 8:40 a.m. - 9 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Evening distribution at Kahuku Park: 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.
     Times for distribution in front of Malama Market are: 9:30 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. for A-H, 9:50 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. for I-P, and 10:10 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. for Q-Z.
     Times for distribution at Ocean View Community Center are 5 p.m. - 5:20 p.m. for A-H, 5:20 p.m. - 5:40 p.m. for I-P, and 5:40 p.m. - 6 p.m. for Q-Z.

Kaʻū Art Gallery is looking for local artists. Call 808-937-1840.

Register for Volcano's ʻŌhiʻa Lehua Half Marathon, 10K, 5K, and Keiki Dash by Wednesday, July 22. The second annual event will be held on Saturday, July 25. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to University of Hawaiʻi for furthering research of Rapid ‘Ōhiʻa Death and The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. See webscorer.com to register.
     Half Marathon registration is $70 through May 24, $80 May 25 through July 22, and $90 for late registration. Registration for the 10K is $50 through May 24, $55 May 25 through Jul 22, and $60 for late registration. Registration for the 5K is $35 through May 24, $40 May 25 through July 22, and $45 for late registration. Keiki Dash registration is $10. All registrations are non-transferable and non-refundable.
     Late registration is only available at packet pickup or race day morning. Shirts are not guaranteed for late registration.  Race Shirts will be included for Half Marathon and 10K participants only. For all other participants, shirts are available to purchase online.
     Packet pick-up is scheduled for Thursday, July 23 in Hilo; Friday, July 26 in Volcano; and Saturday, July 27, 5:30 a.m. to 6:30 a.m. at the race start.
     Half Marathon will start at 7 a.m. Other distances follow shortly after. Keiki Dash will begin at 10 a.m. on VSAS grounds, with the option of one or two laps – about 300 meters or 600 meters. Race cut-off time for the Half Marathon is four hours. The races will begin and end in Volcano Village at VSAS.
     See ohialehuahalf.com.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

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