The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island

Saturday, June 11, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, June 11, 2022

Dr. Ashton Flinders of Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory co-leads the Voyage to the Ridge 2022, with NOAA Ocean

Exploration’s remotely operated vehicle Deep Discoverer to acquire high-definition visual data and collect limited samples

in poorly explored areas along the Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, and Azores Plateau. Here, Deep

Discoverer hovers above several large igneous boulders covered in bamboo corals. See more below. Image from NOAA

HAWAIʻI IS ONE OF THE THREE COVID HOT SPOTS IN THE NATION, reports The New York Times, with all three - Honolulu, Miami, San Juan Puerto Rico being warm weather tourist destinations. The story pointed out that Hawaiʻi had some of the toughest Covid regulations in the country, but stopped requiring pre-testing for mainland arrivals in March. Pre-testing for international arrivals ended nationwide on Saturday. Hawaiʻi was the last place in the country to remove mask requirements.

The story, published on Friday, noted that some rural parts of Hawaiʻi are recording higher Covid numbers than Honolulu. The positivity rate in Honolulu, Miami and San Juan, Puerto Rico is above 20 percent. Then national average is about 13 percent.
Also relevant to Hawaiʻi, is the increase in Covid cases in Las Vegas, one of the favorite destinations of Hawaiʻi residents. Federal and local health officials recommend mask wearing in all casinos and other public places in Las Vegas where the community spread of Covid is registered as High.

HAWAIʻI RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO CONTINUE CRYPTOCURRENCY TRADING. That's the good news, according to an op-ed from Keli'i Akina, President and CEO of Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi. Akina writes:
The bad news is that Hawai'i's policymakers haven't given up the dream of regulating it into oblivion.
For years, Hawai'i residents who wanted to buy or sell cryptocurrency were stymied by the state's Money Transmitters Act, which demands that digital currency companies hold cash assets equal to their digital assets. For example, under this "double reserve" rule, a company with $1 billion in bitcoin and etherium must also have $1 billion in cash reserves.
This double-reserve requirement makes Hawaiʻi one of the most unfriendly states for cryptocurrency, and in 2017 — the same year that the value of bitcoin climbed from $1,000 to $19,783 — exchanges such as Coinbase, Binance and Bitstamp simply stopped doing business here.

Ironically, during that same year, both the Hawaiʻi Senate and House approved an exemption for cryptocurrency from the Money Transmitters Act, but that exemption was removed in conference committee and never passed. As a result, Hawaii residents were forced to watch rather than participate in the worldwide digital currency boom for the next couple of years.
Finally, in 2019, Gov. David Ige authorized the "Digital Currency Innovation Lab," a temporary regulatory "sandbox" that allowed certain companies to do business in Hawaiʻi without being subject to the double-reserve requirement.
Since the lab's inception, 134,000 Hawaii customers have been able to complete more than $800 million in transactions involving cryptocurrency.
With the lab set to end this year, Hawaiʻi policymakers during the latest legislative session, faced a dilemma: If cryptocurrency is going to survive in Hawaiʻi, it needs to be exempted from the double-reserve requirement. That small change in the law is all that is required.
But rather than passing a simple bill exempting digital currency from the double-reserve requirement, as contemplated in 2017, the Legislature instead considered a massive 90-page bill that set out an exhaustive program of regulation, licensure and oversight for cryptocurrency.
As the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi pointed out in extensive testimony on the licensing bill, the proposal was fraught with problems ranging from being too bank-centric, to issues with privacy and data security.
Eventually, the licensing bill collapsed under its own weight, leaving policymakers scrambling for a solution that would not result in an abrupt end to cryptocurrency in Hawaiʻi.
They ended up approving a resolution asking the state to administratively extend the Digital Currency Innovation Lab project for two years, and a bill to create a task force that will study the issue.

The big question since has been: "What will happen to the sandbox?"
Well, now we know, and cryptocurrency enthusiasts can breathe a sigh of relief: The state Division of Financial Affairs and Hawaiʻi Technology and Development Corp. recently extended the sandbox until June 30, 2024, so — for now — cryptocurrency in Hawaiʻi lives.
We must realize, however, that this means there will be even more pressure on the Legislature to come up with a permanent answer. If our lawmakers continue to embrace heavy regulation and licensing schemes, this might be a short respite before cryptocurrency is killed off permanently in Hawaiʻi.
Under the byzantine licensing scheme considered earlier this year, Hawaiʻi would have gone from the worst state in the nation for cryptocurrency to ... the worst state in the nation for cryptocurrency, though perhaps slightly better than before.
If only lawmakers would realize that the answer is right in front of them. The sandbox is light-touch regulation in action. All that it does is remove the double-reserve requirement for cryptocurrency.
If the sandbox works — and judging from the pleas for an extension, it clearly does — then why not learn from its example?
There is no need to create a burdensome regulatory scheme when we have proof that a simple, common sense approach is better and more effective.
The clock has been reset for cryptocurrency in Hawaiʻi. Hopefully, policymakers will spend that time wisely and learn the value of light regulation. That way, we could make Hawaii one of the best states for cryptocurrency, rather than one of the worst.

The editorial is solely the opinion of the author and Grassroot Institute of Hawaiʻi.

HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY'S DR. ASHTON FLINDERS WILL SOON BE ON EXPEDITION IN A RARELY EXPLORED AREA OF THE ATLANTIC SEAFLOOR. This week's Volcano Watch, written by USGS scientists and affiliates notes that June 8 was World Oceans Day, "a day to appreciate the huge body of saltwater that covers about 71% of the Earth’s surface." Here is Volcano Watch:

Sometimes it's easy to forget that our volcanic island is surrounded by oceans and one of the most distant places from continents on Earth. The ocean floor remains one of the most poorly understood places on our planet.

Dr. Ashton Flinders, research geophysicist with U.S.
Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory,
co-leads a deep sea expedition. Portrait from USGS

This month and into summer, Dr. Ashton Flinders, research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory is co-leading a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Ocean Exploration expedition to a poorly explored section of the of the Atlantic Ocean floor north of and around the Azores Islands.
Flinders’ trip is the second in a series of three expeditions taking place from May through August 2022 called NOAA’s Voyage to the Ridge 2022. The expedition will be broadcast live as it happens, so you can follow Dr. Flinders on this exciting journey.
Flinders’ participation in this expedition continues a long legacy of HVO’s involvement in submarine exploration. During the expedition, he will work as a science ambassador, helping coordinate onboard and shore-side scientists to plan and accomplish exploration missions. He will provide his scientific expertise to assist in the description of newly explored areas including live narration during the ROV dives.
Flinders flies from Hilo to Saint John’s, Newfoundland, Canada, where he will board NOAA Ship Okeanos Explorer. The ship will leave Saint John’s on June 16th, making its way 900 miles (1,450 km) to the intersection of Charlie-Gibbs Fracture Zone and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR).
The ship will sail south along a poorly explored section of the MAR and will arrive in the Azores archipelago in mid-July. These nine islands are an autonomous region of Portugal that sit at the triple junction boundary that separates the North American, Eurasian, and African Plates. These volcanic islands are the expression of hotspot volcanism, though it differs significantly from the Hawaiian hotspot.
Spanning the north-south length of the Atlantic Ocean and stretching an impressive 10,000 miles (16,100 km), the MAR is the longest mountain range in the world and one of four major spreading ridges that create new oceanic crust.
The MAR is offset by hundreds of faults and is unique in having a deep fault valley along much of the crest of the range that is the site of volcanic activity and frequent earthquakes. In other areas of the MAR, spectacular hydrothermal vents often form where magma provides heat as it rises to the seafloor.

Thermal vents on the deep ocean floor are under study this summer with a Hawaiian Volcano
Observatory scientist on board the NOAA research vessel. Photo from NOAA

These vents are known to support diverse biologic communities that thrive on chemical reactions that replace the sunlight at the bottom of the ocean. However, little is known about life at these sites once vents go extinct, or what life lies beyond the vents, further away from the rift zone. Expeditions aboard Ship Okeanos Explorer have resulted in the discovery of new species, unseen before.
The Voyage to the Ridge expedition is a part of a major multi-year, multi-national collaborative ocean exploration field program focused on raising collective knowledge and understanding of the North Atlantic Ocean; the Atlantic Seafloor Partnership for Integrated Research and Exploration (ASPIRE).
The North Atlantic Ocean plays a pivotal role to humankind, providing biological and geological resources, seafood production and climate regulation, and a route for trade and travel between Europe and the Americas. With increased globalization, efforts to understand, conserve, manage, and defend the maritime commons have become an essential shared responsibility.
Seafloor mapping during NOAA’s upcoming expedition to the Atlantic will be visible on the live stream whenever remotely operated vehicle (ROV) dives are not being conducted. ROV dives may span depths ranging from 820 to 19,685 feet (250–6,000 m) deep. During dives, they expect to explore deep-sea coral and sponge habitats, potential hydrothermal vent and extinct polymetallic sulfide systems, fracture and rift zones, and the water column. Dives will be streamed daily, from approximately 6:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. EDT (12:45 a.m. to 11 a.m. HST).

Deep water corals will be among the species studied during
HAVO scientist Ashton Flinders' research this summer.
Photo from NOAA

Whether you are here on the Island of Hawai‘i, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, or remotely observing NOAA mapping the Atlantic Ocean floor in several weeks, we hope you take a moment to appreciate our oceans and the important role they play in making life on Earth possible.
Volcano Activity Updates; Kīlauea volcano is erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is at WATCH (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). Kīlauea updates are issued daily.
Over the past week, lava has continued to erupt from the western vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater. All lava is confined within Halemaʻumaʻu crater in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Sulfur dioxide emission rates remain elevated and were last measured at approximately 1,900 tonnes per day (t/d) on June 8. Seismicity is elevated but stable, with few earthquakes and ongoing volcanic tremor. Summit tiltmeters recorded several minor deflation-inflation trends over the past week. For more information on the current eruption of Kīlauea, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/recent-eruption.
Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to an eruption from the current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.
This past week, about 30 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded below the summit and upper elevation flanks of Mauna Loa—the majority of these occurred at shallow depths less than 15 kilometers

NOAA's Okenos Explorer will carry the expedition to explore hotspot
volcanism and discover news underwater species this summer.
NOAA photo

(9 miles) below sea level. Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show low rates of ground deformation over the past week. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at both the summit and at Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone have remained stable over the past week. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa, see: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 15 km (9 mi) SSW of Leilani Estates at 6 km (3 mi) depth on June 5 at 3:01 a.m. HST, and a M2.3 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) S of Captain Cook at 9 km (6 mi) depth on June 3 at 9:20 p.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea's ongoing eruption and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
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.

SPONSOR A BUCKLE,

VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN

ahead of the Saturday,

July 9 Rodeo sponsored by

Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association

and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to

be held on the rodeo grounds

behind Nāʻālehu Park.

Call 808-854-7917.

BECOME A VENDOR AT THE 3RD ANNUAL EXPERIENCE VOLCANO FESTIVAL on Saturday, July 30th and Sunday, July 31st from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day. Last year, over 2,500 visitors attended and over 40 events were featured during the EVH festival. All vendor spaces are $50 for both days of the festival. Sign up as a vendor or a sponsor at experiencevolcano.com. If you have questions, contact experiencevolcano@gmail.com.

SIGN UP FOR KAʻŪ COFFEE TRAIL RUNS with a change of date from July 3 to Sept. 17. Registration deadline for the annual event is Sept. 14. Organized by Hawaiʻi Island Racers, the 50K begins at 6 a.m., Half Marathon at 7 a.m., and 5K at 7:15 a.m., all starting from Kaʻū Coffee Mill at 96-2696 Wood Valley Road in Pāhala. Proceeds go to support ʻO Kaʻū Kakou. For more details on the event and registration fees, visit https://www.kaucoffeetrailruns.com/.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com

See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at

www.kaucalendar.com,

on newsstands and in the mail.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORS OF THE KAʻŪ CALENDAR

at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/05/sponsors-of-kau-calendar.html

Friday, June 10, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Friday, June 10, 2022

King Kamehameha is honored by two holidays, one on Friday with no work for state and county employees, and the
lei draping of his statues in Hilo and Honolulu. The other is Saturday, June 11, which is Kamehameha Day with a parade in Kona and the traditional draping of his statue in Kapa'au and the U.S. Capitol.

SATURDAY, JUNE 11 IS KAMEHAMEHA DAY, with Friday the state and county holiday for workers, as well as an Order of King Kamehameha procession in Hilo and lei draping at the King Kamehameha statues in Hilo and Honolulu. On Saturday there is the parade in Kona and lei draping of his statue in Kapaʻau, and at the U.S. Capitol. In Kaʻū, on Kamehameha Day, June 11, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. will be the launch of a new book on the Place Names and Legends of Ka'u at Punalu'u Bake Shop. See more below.

The holiday celebrates the life of the king who unified all the Hawaiian Islands from the Big Island to Ni'ihau in the decades before the arrival of missionaries.

The statue of King Kamehameha in Washington, D.C.
within the U.S. Capitol. Photo by Julia Neal

Kamehameha I established the Hawaiian Kingdom as an internationally recognized government in 1810. During his reign from 1795 to 1818, fur traders and merchants, picking up local sandalwood on their way to markets in China, stopped in Hawaii on their sailing ships. Pineapple and coffee crops were introduced.
Kamehameha’s great-grandson Kamehameha V established the holiday in 1871, and Kamehameha Day quickly grew to include such events as carnivals, horse and foot races, parades featuring paʻu riders – the flower-bedecked horseback contingents representing each island – hula competitions and hoʻolauleʻa. The holiday continued as Hawaiʻi became a part of the U.S. It was one of the first holidays to be written into law when Hawaiʻi became a state in 1959.

ALL REQUIREMENTS FOR COVID PRETESTING OF TRAVELERS COMING INTO THE U.S. EXPIRE this Saturday, just after 6 p.m. Hawaiʻi time. The federal mandate required testing within 24 hours before boarding flights to the U.S. Dropping the requirement received the blessing of Centers for Disease Control & Prevention determined it is no longer necessary. CDC is expected to review its policy every three months to see if the testing should be reinstated

According to the state Department of Health, Hawaiʻi County had an average over the last week of a 13.1 percent positivity rate for testing for Covid, much lower than Kauaʻi's at 26.5 percent, Honolulu's at 21.9 percent, and Maui's at 17.2 percent. Hawaiʻi County also has the lowest rate of completing vaccinations, at 60 percent, compared to 81 percent in Honolulu, 72 percent on Kauaʻi and 71 percent in Maui County. See all the Department of Health metrics on Covid at https://health.hawaii.gov/coronavirusdisease2019/

A THIRD CASE OF MONKEYPOX was reported by the state Department of Health on Friday. Like the other two, the victims are on Oʻahu. The latest patient is believed to have contracted the disease through community contact. According to the Department of Health, contact tracing is difficult because incubation can be as long as 21 days. Symptoms of monkeypox are "fever, headache, muscle aches, chills, exhaustion, and swollen lymph nodes. Infection progresses to a rash or sores, often on the hands, feet, chest, face, or genitals," according to DOH. As with covid, the virus is spread through droplets and mask wearing can cut the risk.

The Zonta Club invites women who own businesses on this island to apply for micro-grants to
help them grow in the Pay it Forward program. Photo from Zonta Club of Hilo

MICROGRANTS FOR WOMEN-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES are available from The Zonta Club. Women entrepreneurs seeking financial support are encouraged to apply, says a statement from Zonta

Club of Hilo, which oversees this island.
The Pay It Forward program goal is to help women in this community start up or expand a business through a micro-grant intended to give a helping hand. The grant will be up to $2,000. Awardees are required to submit a written report after one year, and will be asked to present the report to the club.

Awardees are encouraged to Pay It Forward when they are financially able. The Pay It Forward program of the local chapter of Zonta was launched in 2014 with an initial donation from Nancy Cabral, a Zonta member and owner of Day-Lum Rentals & Management, Inc. "Cabral's desire was to encourage other women to achieve financial independence and business success. Since its inception, many other generous donors have contributed to these micro-grants for women entrepreneurs," says the Zonta statement.

Applications are available online at https://zontahilo.org/pay-it-forward-microgrant/ and are being accepted via email by midnight July 31. Send to info@zontahilo.org or by mail postmarked by Friday, July 31, 2022 to Zonta Club of Hilo, Pay It Forward Program, P.O. Box 1915, Hilo, HI 96721-1915.

For more information, visit zontahilo.org or email info@zontahilo.org.
The Zonta Club of Hilo is a member of Zonta International, whose mission is to empower women through service and advocacy. Hilo Club projects include Fashion Frenzy, Magnificent Me Girls Conference, college scholarships, and Amelia Earhart Girls in Engineering Day. Website: www.zontahilo.org.

To read comments, add your own,

and like this story,

see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/.

See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com.

See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html tml

GET READY TO JOIN THE 4TH OF JULY PARADE at The Cooper Center in Volcano from 8:30 a.m. till 1 p.m.. The parade will start at the Post Office at 9 a.m. and will end at Cooper Center. There will be no parking at Cooper Center, except for handicapped permitted automobiles by reservation. Maps for parking can be found on their webpage at thecoopercenter.org. There will be crafters in the Carlson Covered Court, food vendors along the parking lot, an entertainment area, children's games, and a large silent auction from 9 to 11:30 a.m..

SPONSOR A BUCKLE,

VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN

ahead of the Saturday,

July 9 Rodeo sponsored by

Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association

and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to

be held on the rodeo grounds

behind Nāʻālehu Park.

Call 808-854-7917.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com

See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at

www.kaucalendar.com,

on newsstands and in the mail.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html

LEARN MORE ABOUT SPONSORS OF THE KAʻŪ CALENDAR

at http://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/05/sponsors-of-kau-calendar.html

Thursday, June 09, 2022

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Thursday, June 9, 2022

The lead image from Paradise Helicopters' website. Description of Hawai'i Island tours describes remote locations to be toured by air. One of its helicopters on Wednesday crashed between Ocean View and South Point Road. The five passengers and pilot survived.
Photo from Paradise Helicopters

THE SIX VICTIMS OF THE HELICOPTER CRASH WEDNESDAY EVENING between South Point and Ocean View Ranchos have survived. Four are discharged from Kona Community Hospital and two remain in another hospital where they were transferred for specialized treatment.
National Transportation Safety Board representatives are expected on the island after the remains of the Bell 407 helicopter have been retrieved from the remote site. Owners of Paradise Helicopters issued a statement saying that their Emergency Response Plan was activated at the time of the incident and that "full resources of the company are being mobilized to respond to the incident. Paradise Helicopters is cooperating with all authorities involved, and is also working to assist all those affected."
Calvin Dorn, founder of Paradise Helicopters, is well known in Kaʻū and Puna for his work with farmers, ranchers and volcano scientists. He has donated flight time during floods, lava flows and other emergencies over the years and has contracted with numerous agencies and businesses for work. In a statement on the company's website regarding the Kaʻū crash, he said, "The care of our passengers, crew members, and their families, is our highest priority."
Kaʻū is featured by Paradise Helicopters in several tours to remote places, including its Sunset Experience tour around the island, which includes seeing black and green sand beaches. See more at www.paradisehelicopters.com.

Lily Api Dacalio, candidate for Rodeo Queen,
is seeking community support.

Zira Wroblewski, candidate for Rodeo Queen,
is seeking community support.

LILY API DACALIO AND ZIRA WROBLEWSKI ARE COMPETING FOR RODEO QUEEN for the July 9 and 10 event at Nāʻālehu Rodeo Grounds. The deadline to offer support to help determine the winner is June 30. Both candidates will ride in the Independence Day Parade that begins at 11 a.m. in Nāʻālehu along Highway 11 on Saturday, July 2.
Wroblewski, 10, will be in fifth grade at Pāhala Elementary in the upcoming school year. She is the daughter of Kamalani and Eddie Wroblewski, of Pāhala. Dacalio, 12, will attend eighth grade at Pāhala Intermediate. She is the daughter of Sierra and Kimo Dacalio, of Wood Valley.
The Rodeo Queen hopefuls are offering discounted rodeo tickets for $8 a day, ahead of the two-day event. At the gate, tickets will be $10 each day on Saturday and Sunday July 9 and 10 at Nāʻālehu Roping & Riding Rodeo Grounds. The rodeo starts with Slack Roping at 8 a.m. on both days, with the show beginning at noon.
Both contestants carry rodeo tickets with them through out the community are asking support through their purchase as they visit community events, travel through neighborhoods, and wave to the public on roadsides with their signs.
To support Dacalio through purchase of rodeo tickets, call or text Sierra Dacalio at 808-785-4119 and leave a message. To support Wroblewski through purchase of rodeo tickets, call or text Mona Wroblewski at 808-938-2221 and leave a message. During the opening of the rodeo on July 9, Rodeo Queen contestants will be presented and the winner will be announced.

CONCERT AT THE CRATER AT KMC THEATER has been added to the Experience Volcano Festival lineup on July 30. The free, live music event at Kīlauea Theater, within Kīlauea Military Camp at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, will be hosted by two musical groups and Volcano Community Association. Park entrance fees may apply. Concert at the Crater features two local music groups. The opening is Hawaiian-fusion duo with singer and songwriters Patrice Ka'ohi and Jeffery O'Casey. Ka'ohi is known for soulful vocals and unique jazz and motown influences. Hailing from O'ahu, she has lived on Hawai'i Island for several years and will perform with O'Casey.
Headlining the event will be The Kilt Lifters, a four-piece ensemble performing eclectic folk-rock with Celtic and historic influences. The Kilt Lifters have performed throughout Hawai'i and the Mainland at festivals and special events, from Alaska to the small town pubs of rural Ireland. Members of the Kilt Lifters include Chris Carr on guitar, flute, piccolo and cow bell, and Jeffery O'Casey on bass and banjo.
A statement from the organizers of Concert on the Crater says, "The Kīlauea Theater, built in 1924, is an asset in our community. Seating over 300 people, the theater has the potential to bring the community together as a community cultural and entertainment resource. It is our hope to bring events to the theater regularly for the benefit of our residents and visitors to the area."
It is located at 99-252 Crater Rim Drive inside Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Enter the Park through the main gate, continue for about a mile, and take the first right after the steam vents. Look for the Theater sign and make the next right. KMC is open to the public and offers food and cocktails at Lava Lounge, open at 4 p.m. for service before the event.
A May 21st Concert at the Crater was postponed due to repairs at Kīlauea Theater, said organizers of the event.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar/. See latest print edition at www.kaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html tml

JOSHUA IKAIKA VIERRA, OF VOLCANO, HAS BEEN CHARGED with kidnapping, impersonating a police officer, assault and a slew of firearms offenses. Hawai'i Island Police announced the arrest on Thursday, saying that an unnamed 17-year-old male juvenile was also taken into custody and charged.

The arrests stem from an incident in Volcano just after midnight on June 8. According to police, the two conspired to assault the juvenile’s 44-year-old biological father who resides on O'ahu. "Upon the father’s arrival at the residence, he was confronted by Vierra who identified himself as a federal agent and placed zip ties on the victim's wrist and ankles," says the statement from police. "Over the course of several hours, the two suspects assaulted the victim. However, during a break in their activity, the victim was able

Joshua Ikaika Vierra is charged with kidnapping,
impersonating a cop and many firearm offenses.
Photo from Hawai'i Island Police

to reach his cell phone and dial 911. Upon arrival, officers saw the victim bound and gagged and arrested Vierra and the juvenile without incident."

The victim was transported to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment. After being treated for his injuries, he was subsequently released to police custody and arrested for outstanding warrants.
In the course of the investigation, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered a silencer, two handguns, and a rifle, all with no serial numbers, which are known as “ghost guns.”
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s office, Vierra was charged with kidnapping, two counts of assault in the second degree, impersonating a law enforcement officer, terroristic threatening in the first degree, use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony, three counts of permit to acquire, three counts of assembling a firearm having no serial numbers, possessing a rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches, possessing a silencer devise capable of muffling the sound of a firearm discharge, six counts of possessing handgun magazines capable of holding a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition, possessing brass knuckles, and promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree.

Vierra’s bail is set at $270,765. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Monday, June 13, in Hilo District Court.
The male juvenile, whose name will not be published due to his age, was charged with kidnapping and abuse of a family household member. He is being detained by the State in a juvenile detention facility on O'ahu.

For more information, or to contribute information, contact Lt. Robert E. Pauole, Juvenile Aid Section, Hawai'i Police Department at 808-961-2254.

SPONSOR A BUCKLE, VOTE FOR RODEO QUEEN ahead of the Saturday, July 9 Rodeo sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association and ʻO Kaʻū Kākou. Event to be held on the rodeo grounds behind Nāʻālehu Park.

See The Kaʻū Calendar June Edition at www.kaucalendar.com

See The Kaʻū Calendar June edition at

www.kaucalendar.com,

on newsstands and in the mail.

SEE UPCOMING EVENTS IN KAʻŪ & VOLCANO

at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html