Ka`u News Briefs Sunday, July 6, 2014

Rodeo clown distracts as judges, announcer and fans look on at the Fourth of July weekend rodeo in Na`alehu, which continues today.
Photo by Julia Neal

INCUMBENT STATE REP. RICHARD H.K. ONISHI has provided information to the League of Women Voters regarding his campaign for reelection, with the primary to be held on Aug. 9.
      “To address issues and concerns and find solutions to better the communities and the lives of future generations in my district, I pledge to listen to you, stay in touch with you, work tirelessly for you and to work together with you,” Onishi said.
      “I believe I am best qualified to represent the people in my district. My experiences have provided me with a diverse perspective on how to address issues, problems and concerns of our communities. Some of those experiences gave me the opportunity to understand the role of the Legislature and be involved in its processes.”

Young paniolo learn to ride and fall in the mutton busting competition.
Photo by Julia Neal

      Onishi was born on the Big Island, attended public schools and graduated from University of Hawai`i at Hilo with a bachelor of arts degree. He has had variety of jobs in the private sector and government, including service jobs in the visitor industry and in the grocery business, supervisory positions in agriculture and computer technology, service in the Army, teaching computer classes at Hawai`i Community College and computer information system analyst for the county. He has held leadership positions in many organizations including PTAs, School/Community-Based Management Councils, coaching soccer and football, Big Brothers and Big Sisters, Army Community Service, Hawai`i Island Adult Care, Hilo High School Foundation and Jaycees. He has lobbied the Legislature on behalf of PTA, Jaycees, ACS, HIAC and Hawai`i Government Employees Associaton.

Wahine double mugging sees the mounted rider roping and the partner on the ground tackling the calf. Photo by Julia Neal

      “My top two goals are to increase revenues and to assist our communities to become safer, healthier, economically viable and sustainable,” Onishi said. “To achieve these goals I will identify, develop and support programs that will increase revenue, and I will work with our communities to identify issues and problems dealing with the safety, health, economy and sustainability of their community and work with them to find solutions.” See lwv-hawaii.org.To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U ROPING & RIDING ASSOCIATION’S annual Fourth of July Rodeo continues today at Na`alehu Rodeo Grounds with Open Dally, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Ranch Mugging and Wahine Mugging.

Thy Word Ministries-Ka`u members walk and ride for the Lord every
Independence Day in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

RELIGIONS OF MANY FAITHS and denominations joined Fourth of July celebrations over the last week in parades in Volcano and Na`alehu. Lighthouse Baptist Church of Na`alehu, whose members handed out American flags at the Na`alehu event, won Most Patriotic. Ocean View Evangelical won most colorful. Religions represented ranged from Evangelical Protestant to Krsna.

      To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

FAMILY CHILD CARE HOMES ARE NOW PERMITTED in agriculturally designated districts if located in a farm dwelling, following Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s signing of House Bill 2560 (Act 210.)
      “This legislation makes it easier for farm families to access child care,” Abercrombie said. “Keiki in rural areas can now have a child care setting that provides open space and opportunities to learn about caring for animals and living off the land.”
      Act 210 also changes the definition of family child care home to allow for care of one to six unrelated children.
      In a separate bill signing ceremony at Maui Brewing Co. at Maui Research & Technology Park in Kihei, the governor enacted Senate Bill 3042 (Act 211), which removes a 30,000-barrel-per-year manufacturing cap for malt beverages for class 14 brewpub licensees. Act 211 also increases the manufacturing limit for class 16 winery licensees to not more than 20,000 barrels of wine on the licensee’s premises during the license year.

Lighthouse Baptist Church walked with flags and handed out small flags,
winning Most Patriotic in Na`alehu. Photo by Julia Neal

      In addition, Act 211 establishes a new class 18 liquor license class for small craft producer pubs, prohibits brewpubs from selling intoxicating liquor from class 1 manufacturer licensees for consumption on the premises, and makes conforming amendments relating to liquor license classes and federal labeling and bottling requirements.

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PAHALA PUBLIC & SCHOOL LIBRARY will offer its patrons new public service hours beginning Monday, July 14: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Friday, 12 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday and Sunday, closed.
      For information about the library’s programs and services, please call 928-2015.

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HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY REPORTS a new lava flow beginning as another ends in the current issue of Volcano Watch.
      “Elevated pressure within Pu`u O`o cone reached a breaking point on June 27 with magma intruding through the cone and erupting from fissures on the northeast flank of the cone. These new vents fed a vigorous, but still relatively short, channelized flow that had reached about 1.5 km northeast of Pu`u O`o by 11 a.m. This new activity was accompanied by minor sagging of the Pu`u O`o crater floor, due to withdrawal of magma within the cone.

Ocean View Evangelical Church took the prize in Na`alehu for Most
Colorful float. Photo by Julia Neal

      “For the past year, the Kahauale`a Two lava flow was erupting from a vent high on the northeast crater rim of Pu`u O`o, on Kilauea’s East Rift Zone, sending lava toward the northeast. Although this lava flow advanced very slowly, and erratically, it was uphill from residential areas and posed a potential future hazard. Several interruptions to the lava supply at the vent occurred over the past year but nothing quite large enough to terminate the flow. In the early morning hours of Friday, June 27, the terminal event finally arrived.
  “Prior to June 27, HVO had been tracking inflation at Pu`u O`o for several weeks. Several small lava flows erupted from spatter cones on the Pu`u O`o crater floor in the week before the event—another sign of pressurization and high lava levels. Slow deflation of the cone began around 5:30 a.m. on June 27, around the time that a handful of small earthquakes appeared. Both the deflation and the earthquakes may have represented magma starting, or trying, to intrude through the cone.   

Followers of Krishna joined Volcano's Fourth of July Parade. Photo by Julia Neal

      “The breaking point was finally reached just before 7 a.m. Our Webcams showed a portion of the northeast flank of Pu`u O`o pushed up slightly—perhaps several yards — as magma forced its way through the side of the cone.
      “Magma reached the surface moments later, tearing open new fissures on the northeast flank and sending out a gush of lava as the built-up pressure was released. Bursts of seismic tremor, sharp deflation and sagging of Pu`u O`o’s crater floor accompanied the opening of the new flank vents as magma stored beneath the cone drained out to feed the new flows.
      “The initial phases of this new activity were impressive. Four fissures opened, with the most vigorous being the lowest in elevation. This fissure sent out a beautiful channelized flow on the opening day, reaching about 0.9 miles in length, but the vigor of the eruption soon abated as the excess pressure in Pu`u O`o was relieved.
      “By the second day, activity had focused on the lowest fissure, and flows were extending only a short distance from this vent. These short flows have been stacking up on one another, building a broad lava shield on the flank of Pu`u O`o. This lava shield activity continues today. …

Na`alehu Assembly of God carried the cross in the Na`alehu Parade.
 Photo by Julia Neal

      “Compared to previous events, the June 27 breakout was relatively small, but it had an important effect on the East Rift Zone eruption. The lava level drop in Pu`u O`o resulted in the lava supply to the Kahauale`a Two flow being shut off. This killed the Kahauale`a Two flow but may have simply replaced it with a new long-term hazard concern. The lava from the June 27 breakout is, like the Kahauale`a Two flow, heading in a northeastern direction and could eventually pose a similar threat to downslope communities. The June 27 flows are, however, very slow-moving and pose no imminent threat. Continued mapping and monitoring of this new flow will help us determine what it could have in store for the future.”
      See hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch. To comment on or like this story, go to facebook.com/kaucalendar.

KA`U RESIDENT DICK HERSHBERGER brings Hawaiian Volcano Observatory founder Thomas Jaggar to life Tuesday at 10 a.m., 12 p.m. and 2 p.m. The living history program takes place every other Tuesday at Kilauea Visitor Center and Whitney Vault in Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park.

The Village Church, Volcano Assembly of God on Wright Road flew
American flags in Volcano's parade. Photo by Julia Neal

PEGGY STANTON TEACHES ACRYLIC PAINTING to all levels Tuesday, July 8 and 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Volcano Art Center’s Niaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Free for VAC members; $20 for nonmembers.
      For more information, email peggystanton007@yahoo.com.

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS AT PAHALAPLANTATIONCOTTAGES.COM AND KAUCOFFEEMILL.COM. KA`U COFFEE MILL IS OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

See kaucalendar.com/Directory2014.swf.
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