Ka`u News Briefs March 19, 2011

Wildfire in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park bumps into old lava flows, pushed by wind.

A CREW FROM WHISKEYTOWN NATIONAL RECREATIONAL AREA in northern California began working with firefighters from Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park yesterday to help fight the wildfire started by an active lava flow. Volcanoes park staff who are fire-qualified are pitching in this weekend, and fire managers are flying the perimeter to assess the fire. The fire has burned more than 1,833 acres, and while strong winds fueled and pushed the fire yesterday, it was also hampered by bumping into lava flows and land previously burned during the Luhi fire in 2003. 

     Gary Wuchner, the fire information officer, said that the relative humidity will show a trend toward dropping this afternoon, making the fuels more receptive to fire. They expect the relative humidity in the fire area, which is makai of the caldera, to be 40 percent. Normally it is 60 percent humidity.
     The most fire activity is located along the flanks of the fire to the south and southwest, where there are patches of dead, down, and standing trees killed by the 2003 fire, the recent drought, and a freeze last year.

The almost-Supermoon, photographed
last night, will become the Supermoon
tonight - the biggest moon since 1993.
Photo by Peter Anderson

THE ALMOST-SUPERMOON was captured last night by Ka`u photographer Peter Anderson, who is also planning to study the full moon tonight, when the moon will be the closest to the Earth since 1993. It will appear 30 percent brighter and 14 percent larger. The full moon will rise at 6:57 p.m. and set at 6:12 a.m. 

A FEMA TEAM is arriving from the mainland to assess damage from last week’s tsunami that led to the complete closure of Kona Village Resort, with its employees laid off with no plan to re-open. The tsunami destroyed beach houses at Honomolino, Okoe and Kapua Bays on this side of Miloli`i. Tsunami waves also changed the underwater seascape along the Ka`u Coast.

KA`U HOSPITAL is asking community members to come to the hospital today to meet its administration and regional management and board as well as state Senator Gil Kahele. The meet and greet starts at 3 p.m. at the Pahala hospital campus at the corner of Hwy 11 and Kamani Streets. Plans to improve the hospital and develop new programs will be presented. Ideas from the community are also welcomed.

THE KA`U COFFEE COOPERATIVE will hold its annual meeting to induct new officers this evening at 5 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. The new president is Gloria Camba, vice-president is Leo Norberte, secretary is Trini Marques, and treasurer is Ricardo Sambajon. Dayday Hopkins, from the county Office of Research & Development, will induct the new officers. R&D has helped coordinate education and promotions for the coffee farmers since 1996, when the sugar plantation shut down in Pahala and many of the plantation workers became coffee farmers.

THE HAWAI`I SEAL OF QUALITY program will be presented by state Department of Agriculture representative Matthew Loke tonight at 6 p.m. at Pahala Community Center. Aikane Coffee is already branded with the seal, and Loke will explain how other agricultural products from Ka`u might qualify. All farmers and producers of ag products are invited to attend.

A COMMUNITY BOOK SALE goes on until 1 p.m. today at Kauaha`ao Church in Wai`ohinu.

THE KA`U FEDERAL CREDIT UNION ANNUAL MEETING AND STEAK FRY is this evening at 6 p.m. at Na`alehu Community Center.

YOU CAN TAKE YOUR RECYCLABLES to Na`alehu School Gym until 1 p.m. today and receive 5 cents per container and additional 20 cents per pound for aluminum. In addition, Atlas Recycling will donate another 20 cents per pound to the school for all aluminum collected.