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| Legumes - consisting of beans, peas, lentils, and others - are a key component to short-term and long-term health, according to Blue Zones Project. "A diet free of legumes may have adverse effects on health." See story below. Photo from bluezones.com |
"The episode 61g lava flow is producing scattered surface flow activity and lava is not entering the ocean. Lava flows pose no threat to nearby communities at this time." According to HVO, "Summit tiltmeters continue to record deflationary tilt. Early Friday morning, a rockfall from the wall of Halemaʻumaʻu crater plunged into the lava lake, producing a short-lived explosion of spatter and wallrock that blanketed an area around the former visitor
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park stated on Saturday that closures of the main gate, concessions, and most features of the park involves a reduction in staff during the government shutdown. The staff is needed to help keep visitors safe.
Webcam views of the lava lake can be found at: volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/multimedia
_webcams.html. A short video of Friday's event can be found at:
_webcams.html. A short video of Friday's event can be found at:
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| Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park boardwalks stand empty, with no income from visitors who pay entrance fees and frequent local businesses. NPS Photo |
"We are alarmed by recent reports regarding activities that are clearly undermining the mission of the National Park Service and the morale of Department of the Interior's workforce which has declined since you took office," the Senators wrote. "Since the start of this administration, staff within the National Park Service have been silenced and ignored. Many of these dedicated public servants have devoted their careers to protecting our nation's greatest treasures for the enjoyment of all Americans."
The 2017 report on financial contribution to the community surrounding Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park stated that in 2016, the number of visitors to the park reach 1,887,580. Visitors to the park spent $159,195,500 in communities near the park. "That spending supported 1,917 jobs in the local area and had a cumulative benefit to the local economy of $199,923,400," the National Park Service reported. The visitor spending was for lodging (31.2 percent), followed by food and beverages (27.2 percent), gas and oil (11.7 percent), admissions and fees (10.2 percent), souvenirs and other expenses (9.7 percent), local transportation (7.4 percent), and camping fees (2.5%).
Every day that the park is closed results in reduced income for these sectors of the local economy, lack of income for National Park staff, and the consequential reduction in their local spending in their communities.
Most of the park, including the main entrance where entrance fees are taken, has been closed since Saturday morning. Visit www.nps.gov and select Find a Park for additional information about access to other parks and sites in Hawai‘i. However, with the federal government shutdown, NPS social media and websites are not being monitored or updated and may not reflect current conditions.
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REACTING TO THE CONTINUING FEDERAL SHUTDOWN, Sen. Mazie Hirono took to the U.S. Senate floor on Sunday to call out Pres. Donald Trump. She said, "When Donald Trump was a private citizen during the last government shutdown he said, 'Problems start from the top, and they have to get solved from the top, and the President's the leader, and he's got to get everybody in a room, and he's got to lead.' Donald Trump said this when President Obama was President. But now that Donald Trump is the President and has those shoes to wear, he refuses to step into them and step up."
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| Viewing Halema‘uma‘u at night to see the fire and the stars is a popular activity of visitors to Volcano and Ka‘ū. Photo by Peter Anderson |
For updates on the shutdown, visit www.doi.gov/shutdown.
REACTING TO THE CONTINUING FEDERAL SHUTDOWN, Sen. Mazie Hirono took to the U.S. Senate floor on Sunday to call out Pres. Donald Trump. She said, "When Donald Trump was a private citizen during the last government shutdown he said, 'Problems start from the top, and they have to get solved from the top, and the President's the leader, and he's got to get everybody in a room, and he's got to lead.' Donald Trump said this when President Obama was President. But now that Donald Trump is the President and has those shoes to wear, he refuses to step into them and step up."
Said Hirono, "The only person who actually said maybe we need a good shutdown is President Trump. Recently, Office of Management and Budget Director Mick Mulvaney also said it was 'cool' to shut down the government. No, not cool," said Hirono. "This may explain why the President keeps shooting down bipartisan efforts to prevent a shutdown." See Hirono's remarks.
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| Sen. Mazie Hirono noted that Trump's Budget Director said it was "cool" to shut down government. See Hirono's remarks on the Senate floor Sunday. |
Hirono also announced that she will donate pay she receives during the government shutdown to Hawai‘i's 14 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers. "Community Health Centers serve hundreds of thousands of Hawai‘i residents, including keiki who rely on the Children's Health Insurance Program. Despite broad bipartisan support for both of these programs, the President and Congressional Republicans allowed them to lapse last September. I know we can negotiate a bipartisan compromise to end the shutdown that restores resources for these critical services, protects DREAMers, and includes parity between defense and non-defense spending."
Hirono said her salary will be divided equally between Bay Clinic, West Hawai‘i Community Health Center, Hamakua Health Center, Community Clinic of Maui, Hana Community Health Center, Ho‘ola Lahui Hawai‘i, Kalihi-Palama Health Center, Ko‘olauloa Community Health and Wellness Center, Kokua Kalihi Valley Comprehensive Family Services, Lana‘i Community Health Center, Moloka‘i ‘Ohana Health Care, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, Waikiki Health, and Waimanalo Health Center.
During the 2013 government shutdown, Hirono donated her salary to Lanakila Pacific, the Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council, Kaua‘i Economic Opportunity, and Hale Mahaolu.
In Washington, D.C., both Senators and Representatives worked through the weekend, and said they hoped to reach agreements to vote on bills Monday to reopen government.
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The session, sponsored by Ka‘ū Rural Health Community Association, is part of the organization's Call to Action Prevention Campaign. Certified Prevention Specialist Gary Shimabukuro will lead the educational and informational event. Pre-registration is required. For more information, call Ka‘ū Resource & Distance Learning Center at 928-0101.
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THE BLUE ZONES PROJECT, which hosts healthy eating events in Ka‘ū, is promoting a food that seems to help people live longer. "Beans, peas and lentils, all members of the legume family, are loaded with fiber and protein and may even add years to your life. One seven-year study found that for every additional 1/3 cup of beans seniors ate each day, their risk of dying fell seven to eight percent. According to Blue Zones’ Power 9 principles, a typical centenarian - a person who lives to be at least 100 years old - living in a Blue Zone, eats meat, typically pork, only five times each month. The cornerstone of these people's diet? You guessed it - legumes," says a statement from Blue Zones released this week.
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| Blue Zones says eating legumes, like roasted chickpeas, daily, could increase longevity. Photo from bluezones.com |
Blue Zones reports four reasons to load up on legumes:
Reduce cholesterol levels: Beans are loaded with fiber - about 60 percent of the daily recommended value in one cup of black beans. Black beans also contain soluble fiber, which reduces your body's absorption of cholesterol and can decrease high cholesterol levels, a risk factor for heart disease. Consuming between five and 10 grams of soluble fiber per day can lower cholesterol - a cup of black bean contains more than seven grams. Opt for dried beans or rinse canned beans to remove excess salt. Too much sodium in your diet can increase blood pressure, another heart disease risk factor.
Lower diabetes risk: Legumes have a low glycemic load, which is beneficial for many reasons, including regulating blood sugar levels. A glycemic load determines how much a food will affect blood sugar levels. Aim to consume a total daily glycemic load of less than 100; a half a cup of kidney beans has a load of six. Legumes also prevent blood sugar spikes, so they provide your body with steady energy.Fight diseases like cancer: Legumes are loaded with fiber, which may prevent some digestive cancers. Beans, especially black beans, contain nutrients, like antioxidants and flavonoids, that help fight disease.
Help control weight: Legumes are low in calories. When consumed in excess, any food can contribute a few extra inches to your waistline. A half-cup of garbanzo beans contains only 135 calories and no saturated fat, plus fiber and protein, which keep you fuller for longer. Fiber also promotes regularity.
Sneak legumes into every meal: The weekly recommended intake of beans for adult men and women is between two and three cups, but Americans seldom reach these goals. Incorporating legumes into your diet can be simple and tasty, too. Some suggestions: Hide black beans in brownies by swapping flour for pureed black beans; blend garbanzo beans, also called chickpeas, into a hummus spread and add to a sandwich or use as a dip for veggies; swap half a cup of cooked lentils for your typical protein in a lunchtime salad. Half a cup contains only 115 calories, but has 9 grams of protein and 8 grams of fiber. Cook up some soup for a hearty meal or puree a cup of peas in the next bowl of pesto. Start the morning with a boost of energy and a punch of fiber, protein, and iron by folding plump kidney beans into an omelet, instead of bacon or ham.
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| Learn to grow edible and medicinal mushrooms with Instructor Zach Mermel. Photo from volcanoartcenter.org |
GROWING EDIBLE & MEDICINAL MUSHROOMS is the subject of a workshop Saturday, Feb. 3, from 9 a.m. to noon, at Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Instructor Zach Mermel teaches the basics of mushroom cultivation in the Food From Wood: Growing Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, and Wood Chips workshop. The event description states, "If you're an eager epicurean, avid horticulturalist or just interested in mushrooms, Zach encourages you along with farmers, gardeners, and homeowners seeking to incorporate the growing of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms into their lives and livelihoods to attend."
Instructor Zach Mermel teaches the basics of mushroom cultivation in the Food From Wood: Growing Edible & Medicinal Mushrooms on Logs, Stumps, and Wood Chips workshop. The event description states, "If you're an eager epicurean, avid horticulturalist or just interested in mushrooms, Zach encourages you along with farmers, gardeners, and homeowners seeking to incorporate the growing of gourmet and medicinal mushrooms into their lives and livelihoods to attend."
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| Learn basic Fungal Biology and discover the health benefits of different edible mushrooms in Hawai‘i at a workshop in Volcano. See story below. Photo from Volcano Art Center |
Pre-registration is required. Course fees are $50 for Volcano Art Center members and $55 for non-members. Each participant will depart with a shiitake mushroom log kit and a King Stropharia mushroom kit. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.
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KAʻŪ TROJANS WON in varsity boys basketball on Saturday in Kohala. In JV, Trojans scored 29, with top scorers Kyson Toriano bringing in 13 and Kaikea Kaupu Manini scoring 10. Kohala won with 33 points. In Varsity, Kaʻū beat Kohala 45 to 30, with Trojans leading scorers Nanioa Ke making 16 points and Andre Carvalho coming up with 14.
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See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html. January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com. |
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE
Boys Basketball: Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.
Monday, Jan. 29, @ Parker.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, Kealakehe @ Ka‘ū.
Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.
Boys Soccer: Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.
Swimming: Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).
Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.
Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.
Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.
Monday, Jan. 29, @ Parker.
Wednesday, Jan. 31, Kealakehe @ Ka‘ū.
Saturday, Feb. 3, @ Kamehameha.
Boys Soccer: Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.
Swimming: Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).
Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.
Saturday, Feb. 3 @ Kealakehe.
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H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.
HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL committees meet Tuesday, Jan. 23, with a full council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Both meeting days take place in Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.
VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. An illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.REGISTER KEIKI BY THURSDAY, JAN. 24, FOR ‘O KA‘Ū KAKOU'S 10TH ANNUAL Keiki Fishing Tournament held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Punalu‘u Beach Park Pavilions. The event is open to keiki from one to 14 years old, with pick-up & drop-off locations for registration forms at: Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, Nā‘ālehu Ace Hardware, Pāhala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Pāhala Gas Station, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nā‘ālehu, Ka‘ū Learning Academy, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Pre-registration ends 5 p.m., Jan. 24. Register at event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fishing until noon, then lunch and prizes. Every participant gets a prize. Grand and mini-grand prize drawing - including personal tablets. For more, call Guy Enriques at 217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773 or visit okaukakou.org.
STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.
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| Learn about Coffee Berry Borer at a workshop in Kealakekua Thursday/Saturday. Photo from CTAHR |
The free two-hour class teaches the basics of coffee berry borer identification, biology, and management. It is planned for Thursday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 27, and will take place in the Kona Cooperative Extension Service office at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua.
Representatives of the Extension Service office ask everyone to "Please let new coffee farmers know about this upcoming workshop. A flyer will be distributed and available soon."
For more details, visit hawaiicoffeeed.com.
MUSICIAN AND TEXTILE ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE GIVE A DUAL PERFORMANCE on Friday, Jan. 26, starting at 6 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Will Oldham (performs as Bonnie "Prince" Billy) will sing and play music, and his wife, fiber/textile artist Elsa Hansen Oldham, stitches on stage as her handiwork is projected on a movie screen. Oldham is an acclaimed singer/songwriter whose music has been described as an alternative blend of country-folk and punk; Hansen-Oldham's quilting and cross-stitch work puts a folksy pop-art spin on history and modern culture. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 26, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.
LEARN MORE ABOUT AND DISCUSS THE AGRICULTURAL SYSTEM USED IN PRE-CONTACT HAWAI‘I during Coffee Talk on Friday, Jan. 26, from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Kahuku Unit Visitor Center of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park (entrance located south of the 70.5 mile marker on the mauka side of Hwy 11).
During the January event, Farming the Rock in Ka‘ū: The Agriculture Field System of Kahuku, University of Hawai‘i Professors Seth Quintus and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln discuss their work uncovering the Ka‘ū field system at Kahuku, as well as how this knowledge might serve Hawai‘i in the future. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.
MAKE LEI WITH KAIPO AHCHONG AT VOLCANO ART CENTER'S ALOHA FRIDAY event on January 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the VAC Gallery porch.
Tropical Agriculture farmer AhChong shares his expert lei-making skills. As a member of Halau Na Kamalei, his unique experience marries the science of agriculture with Hawaiian lei and hula traditions.
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week. These free cultural events are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. National Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.
HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.
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.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 26, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.
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| See glasswork by Heather Mettler at Volcano Art Center Gallery's current Exhibit. See event details below. Photo from Volcano Art Center |
During the January event, Farming the Rock in Ka‘ū: The Agriculture Field System of Kahuku, University of Hawai‘i Professors Seth Quintus and Noa Kekuewa Lincoln discuss their work uncovering the Ka‘ū field system at Kahuku, as well as how this knowledge might serve Hawai‘i in the future. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries will be available for purchase. For more, see nps.gov/HAVO.
MAKE LEI WITH KAIPO AHCHONG AT VOLCANO ART CENTER'S ALOHA FRIDAY event on January 26, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on the VAC Gallery porch.
Tropical Agriculture farmer AhChong shares his expert lei-making skills. As a member of Halau Na Kamalei, his unique experience marries the science of agriculture with Hawaiian lei and hula traditions.
Aloha Friday cultural demonstrations are held each week. These free cultural events are supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development, and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. National Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.
A BUILD YOUR OWN MINI ORCHID DISPLAY workshop is offered by Volcano Art Center on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to noon, at the Ni‘aulani Campus in Volcano Village.
Hilo Orchid Society's Shelby Smith and Donna Barr will be on hand to answer questions and show tips, tricks, and their orchid "know-how." Different categories of mini orchid displays will be covered, including Garden, Flower Arrangement/Cut Flowers/Ikebana, and Keiki.
Pre-registration is required. Volcano Art Center members pay $20 and non-members pay $25.
The event description on volcanoartcenter.org says, "Not only will you learn a thing or two, but also, thanks to the Hilo Orchid Society, you'll be able to take home an orchid."
COUNT HUMPBACK WHALES FOR THE SANCTUARY OCEAN COUNT on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 8 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., at one of four locations along the coast in/near Ka‘ū District: Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at Ka‘ena Point - end of Chain of Craters Road; Punalu‘u Black Sand Beach Park; Ka Lae Park at the end of South Point Road; and Miloli‘i Lookout - from Hwy 11, continue makai towards Miloliʻi Beach Park, 1.9 miles down, turn left on Awapuhi and continue to dead end.
Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey, which provides valuable data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bring sun protection, water, snacks, and a cushion to sit on. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time for orientation. Register at sanctuaryoceancount.org. Free; park entrance fees apply. Count will be held again on Feb. 24 and Mar. 31. Read more about locations at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
Pre-registration is required. Volcano Art Center members pay $20 and non-members pay $25.
The event description on volcanoartcenter.org says, "Not only will you learn a thing or two, but also, thanks to the Hilo Orchid Society, you'll be able to take home an orchid."
Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document the animals' surface behavior during the survey, which provides valuable data to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Bring sun protection, water, snacks, and a cushion to sit on. Arrive 30 minutes prior to start time for orientation. Register at sanctuaryoceancount.org. Free; park entrance fees apply. Count will be held again on Feb. 24 and Mar. 31. Read more about locations at hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov.
HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be shown until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.
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.
