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| Sen. Mazie Hirono attended the graduation of the Naval Shipyard Apprentices on Friday and said she will advocate for shipyard improvements across the country, including Pearl Harbor. US Navy Photo |
HAWAI`I'S SHIPYARD WORKFORCE gained support from Sen. Mazie Hirono today. The Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Seapower Subcommittee, Hirono reaffirmed her commitment to supporting Hawai`i’s shipyard workforce at today’s Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprenticeship Program graduation ceremony. More than 80 Shipyard Apprentices graduated.
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Hirono speaks to a 2017 Shipyard apprentice graduate Justiny M.C. Alimoot.
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“Given what’s going on in the world today, the work you’ve been training to do is very important,” said Hirono. “We need workers like you to maintain, repair, and overhaul the ships and submarines in our fleet. I will continue to work together with our delegation to make sure that Pearl Harbor Shipyard remains a strong and vital part of our national security.”
Hirono said she continues to strongly advocate for federal funding to support the Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and the modernization of shipyards across the nation.
Earlier this year, she worked with Hawai`i’s Congressional Delegation and others to exempt Navy shipyard civilian employees from the recent executive order that freezes federal hiring –preventing hiring delays that could threaten national security.
The Senator was joined at the Friday event by members of Hawai`i’s Congressional Delegation, Sen. Brian Schatz and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.
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HAWAI`I'S ECONOMY CONTINUES TO GROW, but at a slower rate, according to a state Department of Business and Economic Development's Statistical and Economic Report for the third quarter. The report, based on U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis data, said that following a 2 percent per year grows during 2015 and 2016, growth slowed to .9 percent for the first quarter of this year.
Luis Salveria, director of DBEDT said, “Hawai`i’s economic fundamentals are still positive, although growth has slowed down. We have the second lowest unemployment rate in the nation during the first half of 2017, and our visitor industry is performing well, with 4.6 million visitor arrivals during the first half of the year.” The unemployment rate during June was 2.7 percent, about .4 percent lower than last June. Employment and the number of people in the labor force reached an historic high during the first six months of 2017. Visitor arrivals are projected to increase by 3.2 percent this year.
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Thermal cameras have been used by volcanologists around the world for many years to study volcanic processes and search for signs of impending eruptions.
On Kīlauea, data from thermal cameras are used to track the level and movements of the summit lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu. This helps us better understand lake behavior and the inner workings of the volcano. Insights gained from thermal images continue to teach us how molten lava erupts, degasses and, over geologic time, changes the landscape.
Thermal cameras work by measuring energy in the long-wave infrared part of the emitted light spectrum (8–14 micrometers). That energy is translated into a temperature value using principles of physics.
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| Side-by-side images from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory’s Thermal Web Camera (HTcam) located on the rim of Halemaʻumaʻu before (left) and after (right) lava veneer from the vent wall fell into the lake on July 28, 2017. The collapse scar is circled at right. You can follow the changing lava lake activity, as seen through the eyes of a thermal camera, on HVO’s website at https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vsc/captures/kilauea/htcam.jpg. USGS images |
Included with this article are two recent thermal images of Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake. Colors correspond to surface temperatures: darker colors indicate cooler surfaces and lighter colors represent molten and recently solidified lava.
The scale at right does not reflect true temperatures due to a variety of factors, including the obscuring effects of volcanic fume. Actual lava temperatures for the hottest areas in these images would be about 1150 degrees Celsius (2100 degrees Fahrenheit). But, relative temperatures are still correct. Hot is hot!
The field of view in each frame is roughly 200 m (660 ft) across. In this view, the lake surface is about 125 m (410 ft) below the camera.
In these images, captured at 4:05 p.m. (left) and 4:42 p.m. (right) local time on July 28, 2017, you can see a dramatic difference in lava lake surface characteristics. The difference resulted from a sudden collapse of lava veneer, the rocky coating left on the vent wall by spattering and previous higher stands of the lake.
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An HVO geologist performs a routine check of the thermal camera
and webcam at the summit. USGS photo.
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The 4:05 p.m. image shows typical lake conditions, with spattering on the northeast lake margin. About a dozen different-sized plates of semi-solid crust on the lake surface slowly circulate. Jagged and straight cracks form as the plates pull apart, revealing molten lava beneath the crust. Bright areas, where the foundering of crustal plates churns up molten lava, are also visible.
At 4:28 p.m., a large patch of veneer – perhaps 50 m (165 ft) wide and 30 m (100 ft) high – cascaded into the lava lake, leaving behind a hot scar (circled in right image). The impact of this rocky debris falling into the lava lake caused agitation that persisted for tens of minutes. That disturbance broke the surface crust into dozens of microplates and possibly promoted new spattering along the lake margins.
HVO’s thermal camera at Halemaʻumaʻu has functioned well for over six years, sending data to us around the clock. The camera has a 53-degree-wide lens housed in a modified Pelican™ case for protection from weather, corrosive volcanic gas, and occasional bombardment by molten spatter. The box is mounted on a well-anchored, sturdy tripod. Images are transmitted by WiFi connection to HVO, where they are collected on computer servers for delivery to our public web site and to HVO staff for analysis.
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| Thermal camera shows active lava pond inside Pu`u O`o Crater in 2010. USGS Photo |
In the coming year, Hawai`i Volcano Observatory scientists hope to upgrade the Halemaʻumaʻu thermal camera to a new model that will acquire higher resolution images. Better images will allow even more detailed analyses and enhance tracking of lava levels.
An online interview with HVO geologist Matt Patrick (https://www.livescience.com/25952-kilauea-live-images-interview.html) tells more about how scientists use thermal cameras to study Kīlauea Volcano’s summit lava lake. He has also written a paper on the use of thermal cameras at Kīlauea and Mauna Loa, which is available at https://appliedvolc.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2191-5040-3-1.
Visit the HVO website (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo) for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates, Mauna Loa weekly updates, volcano photos, recent earthquakes info, and more. Call for summary updates at 808-967-8862 (Kīlauea) or 808-967-8866 (Mauna Loa). Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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| Pick up the August edition of The Ka`u Calendar delivered free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka`u, from Miloli`i through Volcano. Also available on stands throughout the district. See it online at www.kaucalendar.com |
PANCAKE BREAKFAST, SATURDAY, AUG. 12, 8 a.m. to 11 a.m., Ocean View Community Center. 9389-7033.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS parade begins at Na`alehu School and travels down Hwy 11 to Na`alehu beginning on Saturday, at 9 a.m, followed by the celebration at Na`alehu Community Center and park.
There will be food booths, arts and crafts, information booths, games, keiki photos by the police department, tug o war, food contest, lauhala weaving, arm wrestling, archery shoot, silent auction, horseshoes, Hawaiian games, lei making and Hawaiian medicine. The event is free and organized byt Ka`u Multicultural Society's Darlyne Vierra or Liz Kuluwaimaka, who can be reached at 640-8740 or 339-0289.
KA`U PLANTATION DAYS parade begins at Na`alehu School and travels down Hwy 11 to Na`alehu beginning on Saturday, at 9 a.m, followed by the celebration at Na`alehu Community Center and park.
There will be food booths, arts and crafts, information booths, games, keiki photos by the police department, tug o war, food contest, lauhala weaving, arm wrestling, archery shoot, silent auction, horseshoes, Hawaiian games, lei making and Hawaiian medicine. The event is free and organized byt Ka`u Multicultural Society's Darlyne Vierra or Liz Kuluwaimaka, who can be reached at 640-8740 or 339-0289.
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JAZZ IN THE FOREST SUMMER SERIES continues Saturday, Aug. 12 at 4:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. The performance is called The Odyssey of Saxy Jazz!
The evening explores evolution of the American jazz saxophone and highlights the historic diversions as America opened up on the East and West coasts with the creation of many styles and personalities. Jazz in the Forest takes place at the Volcano Art Center campus on Old Volcano Highway. The Wine and Beer Room will be open for attendees to enjoy before and after the concert. An area is set aside for dancing. Tickets are $18 for VAC members, $20 non-members. For more information or to register call Volcano Art Center at 808-967-8222.
The evening explores evolution of the American jazz saxophone and highlights the historic diversions as America opened up on the East and West coasts with the creation of many styles and personalities. Jazz in the Forest takes place at the Volcano Art Center campus on Old Volcano Highway. The Wine and Beer Room will be open for attendees to enjoy before and after the concert. An area is set aside for dancing. Tickets are $18 for VAC members, $20 non-members. For more information or to register call Volcano Art Center at 808-967-8222.
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Tango and classical music are among the offerings at the Hawai`i International Music Festival concert at Pahala Plantation House on Wednesday, Aug. 16 at 7 p.m.
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