Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, May 31, 2018

Kealia Galimba, with Blossom, won Grand Champion Heifer in the 2016 Hawaiʻi County 4-H Show & Sale. This year's show takes
place in June See story below. Photo from Michelle Galimba

KĪLAUEA ERUPTION IS A MONTH LONG, three pronged event, sending Ka‘ū ash fall and S02, Volcano area earthquakes, and lower Puna destruction of homes and farms. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists said today they have recorded lava moving as quickly as 600 yards an hour and called the pahoehoe some of the hottest they have ever sampled, with temperatures as high as 2039 F. Since the eruption began, lava has covered 3,534 acres as of May 30. There is no end in sight.

Lava on the left, next to the moonrise, seen through the
webcam on top of Mauna Loa the evening of May 31.
USGS image

     Today, fountaining lava reached 260 feet in the sky and threw up Pele's Hair. The volcanic glass particles fell across Leilani Estates. At sundown, lava lit up the sky, seen alongside the moonrise through the HVO webcam on the summit of Mauan Loa.

     This evening, Civil Defense reported firefighters going door to door to urge residents along Papaya Farms and Noni Farms Roads in lower Puna to evacuate immediately. Civil Defense told residents of Vacationland and Kapoho Beach Lots to be out by tomorrow at 6 p.m. Residents of the east section of Leilani Estates are under mandatory evacuation orders from Mayor Harry Kim, with the county threatening fines and arrests for those who stay.

Firefighters went door to door May 31 to tell residents along Papaya Farms Road and Noni Farms Road to leave "today". Vacationland
and Kapoho Beach Lots should leave by 6 p.m. tomorrow, June 1. USGS map

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AIR QUALITY REACHED RED TODAY IN PĀHALA, MOSTLY FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF ASH DRIFTING THROUGH THE VILLAGE. Hawaiʻi Electric Light Co. workers in Pāhala to make repairs could see the ash in the air illuminated by their lights shining on their worksite. For overall air quality, the ratings were back to moderate in Pāhala, Ocean View, and Kona by 9:30 p.m.
     For SO2, air was the good, green rating in Volcano, Pāhala, Ocean View, and Kona most of the day. See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see the University of Hawaiʻi air quality predictions on its VMAP.

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ANDREA KAWABATA WILL BE A FEATURED SPEAKER AT THE WORLD COFFEE SCIENCE SUMMIT in El Salvador next week. She is known for her work with Ka‘ū and Kona

Andrea Kawabata. Photo from U.H.

coffee growers, and other farmers around the island. Kawabata is a University of Hawaiʻi Extension Agent for agriculture. 

     Her talk will feature methods used in controlling the Coffee Berry Borer in Hawaiʻi.

     Anyone with emergencies during her absence can contact Dr. Alyssa Cho or Sharon Wages at 808-969-8225, or email them at axho@hawaii.edu or smotomur@hawaii.edu.

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A MASTER FOOD PRESERVER CERTIFICATION CLASS, sponsored by University of Hawaiʻi, begins Friday, June 1. According to U.H., "Canning and preserving food is wildly popular again, and so is learning about safe and approved preservation techniques and recipes."

     The class covers development of jams and jellies, canning acid foods, pressure canning low acid foods, picking and fermenting, drying, freezing, and the art of charcuterie. Location is Hawaiʻi Community College at the Palamanui Campus Kitchen, in Kona. Instructors are Luisa F. Castro, PhD and chef and farmer Klen Kelekoma. See more at https://hilo.hawaii.edu/ccecs/summer2018/MFP.php.

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THE 2018 HAWAIʻI COUNTY 4-H LIVESTOCK SHOW & SALE will draw Kaʻū youth to the other side of the island with their calves, pigs, and other livestock they have raised. The 4-H Livestock Association Chair is Ka‘ū rancher and state Board of Agriculture member Michelle Galimba.

     The 4-H Livestock Show & Sale is Friday, June 15, and Saturday, June 16, at Anderson Arena, also known as Rocking Chair Ranch, at 47-5124 Hawaiʻi Belt Road in Waimea. Open to the public, the annual event supports young farmers and ranchers. 

     “The 4-H participants are not only judged on the quality of their animals, but also on their showmanship skills,” said Galimba, “Each youth demonstrates the ability to effectively present their animal and on their project-based knowledge.”

     Grand Champion and Reserve Champion ribbons and trophies are awarded for each species of animal. In addition, youth compete for the show’s overall Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Showman.

Kailee Aickin placed first in the Lightweight Hog division in 2016.
Photo from Michelle Galimba

     This year marks a century of 4-H in Hawai‘i; the state’s first 4-H livestock club opened in 1918.

     Friday’s events begin at 3:30 p.m. and include shows for rabbits, poultry, and goats.

     Saturday’s large animal activities kick off with an 8 a.m. welcome, followed by 4-H participants showing lambs, hogs, steers, and heifers. Competition continues for top showmanship honors in the Round Robin Showmanship Class.

     Buyer’s registration and lunch is at 12:30 p.m., with the sale of 4-H animals at 2 p.m., including beef steer and heifer, hog, lamb, goat, and possibly poultry and rabbits.

     The 4-H livestock program provides youths aged 5-18 with hands-on learning opportunities by raising and training livestock. Participants learn humane animal husbandry skills and record-keeping. Students are responsible for the financial planning of their project, plus the daily care, feeding, and training of their project animals.

     “4-H assists our young people in developing important life skills while working on economically valuable, hands-on projects,” noted Galimba. “We must strongly support agricultural education and experiences for our young people if we are to increase Hawaiʻi’s food sustainability.”

     For more information, contact Galimba at mgalimba@kuahiwiranch.com or 808-430-4927.

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Hawaiʻi Farmers Union Ka‘ū invites the public to talk
about ag on Friday, June 22. Photo from HFUU

HAWAIʻI FARMERS UNION UNITED KAʻŪ CHAPTER will host a community meeting on Friday, June 22 at 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House. Ka‘ū Chapter President Raina Whiting said the discussion will be about agriculture in Ka‘ū, local food production, and ag related legislation. It is also an opportunity to make connections with folks in the community, she said.

     Whiting said that all Kaʻū farmers and ranchers are encouraged to attend. Light pupus will be available, and everyone is welcome to bring something to share.
     Any questions, call Whiting at 808-464-0799 or emailrainawhiting@gmail.com.

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.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will take sign-ups in Kaʻū, Jun 1-29 (closed Jun 11).
     In Nā’ālehu, it will take place at the Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263.
     In Ocean View, it will take place at Ocean View Community Center, Mon and Tue, 8-1pm.
     In Pāhala, it will take place at the Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue and Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See more for eligibility requirements and application.

A Fundraiser for Miloli‘i: 23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Fri-Sun, Jun 1-3, Honokōhau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-$3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 2

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, Jun 2 - Jul 14, statewide and online. Register, starting Jun 2 and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.


yART Sale! Gigantic Rummage Sale, Sat, Jun 2, 8:30-2pm, Volcano Art Center’s Hale Ho‘omana. Benefits VAC programs and workshops. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Stained Glass Basics II, Sat & Sun, Jun 2, 3, 9 & 10, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center. Prerequisite: Stained Glass Basics I. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member, plus $30 supply fee. Register in advance. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Jun 2, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit's newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3

Stained Glass Basics II, Sat & Sun, Jun 3, 9 & 10, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's educational campus. Prerequisite: Stained Glass Basics I. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member, plus $30 supply fee. Register in advance. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Palm Trail, Sun, Jun 3, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, Jun 3, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, JUNE 4
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Mon/Tue/Wed, Jun 4 & 5 (Committees)/6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, Jun 4 & 18, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Mon, Jun 4, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 5
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, Jun 5 (Committees)/6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Volunteer Clean-Up w/Hawai‘i Outdoor Institute, Tue, Jun 5, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 4-6pm, Jun 19, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, Jun 6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

AdvoCATS, Wed, Jun 6, 7-5pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org.

THURSDAY, JUNE 7
Veteran's Center, Thu, Jun 7, 8:30-12:30pm, Jun 21, 8:30-11:30am, Ocean View Community Center. VA benefits and individual counseling services. Matthew, 329-0574, ovcahi.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, Jun 7, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

ONGOING
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Jun 1-29 (closed Jun 11), Ka’ū. Nā’ālehu: Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263. Ocean View: Ocean View Community Center, Mon & Tue, 8-1pm. Pāhala: Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue & Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See hceoc.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-LIHEAP-APPLICATION.pdf for eligibility requirements and application.

*Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, online during park closure, through Jun 24. See volcanoartcenter.org for other exhibits and activities available at the Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus.

Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade Registration Open, held June 30. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open, online at volcanorainforestruns.com. Fees, before Jul 31: 5K - $30, 10K - $35, 1/2 Marathon - $85. Race Day Sat, Aug 18, with staggered morning start times, from Volcano Village. Race Director Sharron Faff, 967-8240

5th Annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences at Volcano Winery, Sun, Sept 9. Tickets on sale Aug 1: volcanowinery.com or 967-7772. Live music by The Young Brothers; food & drink from local restaurants; award-winning wine and tea; tours of the vineyards.

5th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145. Fees, before Mon, Jul 9: 5K - $25, 10K - $35, and 1/2 Marathon - $45. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7am; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, okaukakou.org

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Kaʻū News Briefs Wednesday, May 30, 2018

How to manage intermittent ash and S02 in the air at the schools and in homes and outdoors, was
the hot topic at this evening's meeting in Pāhala on the continuing emissions from Kīlaeua Volcano.
Photo by Julia Neal

LIVING WITH EXPOSURE TO ASH falling in Kaʻū and more S02 in the air coming from Kīlauea Volcano drew a packed house at the Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose room this evening.

     Families, teachers, and community volunteers told their stories. A grandmother asked why schools stayed open when there was ash everywhere. A Pāhala kindergarten teacher said she thought that her classroom, closed up with an air cleaner, provides at least as good or a better air quality than some of the children's homes. A teacher from Nāʻālehu School said the ash makes it into his classrooms. He described the windows as having grates instead of screens, and louvers that fail to seal off the room.

Grates instead of screens at Pāhala and Nāʻālehu public
schools. The louvers let in ash, said a teacher. Residents
discussed airconditioning and tight windows for
the classrooms. 

     After the meeting, people talked about the need to have tight windows and air conditioning in Kaʻū's public school classrooms.

     Representatives of the state Department of Health talked about the best way to avoid ash and S02. "Minimize exposure is the best medicine," said Dr. Alvin Bronstein. Stay out of it by going indoors and closing windows until it passes, officials recommended. John Peard, of the health department's Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, discussed air purifiers, recommending those with HEPA, particulate, and acid gas filters. Make sure that the purifier is the size that fits the size of the room, officials recommended. He also said that during periods of ashfall and S02, outdoor activities can be managed by paying attention to trends. The poor air seems to be concentrated at night and morning, with the clean air in the afternoons.

     Dr. Elizabeth Tam, a pulmonologist, emphasized that ash is irritating to nasal passages and eyes but is not poisonous, and pointed to her long term study that showed that people living in wet places like Hilo had more respiratory problems than drier Kaʻū, with its higher S02.

Kaʻū residents filled the meeting in Pāhala tonight to learn more about air quality alerts and
protecting themselves from ash and S02 from Kīlauea Volcano. Photo by Julia Neal

     County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno said that, while the county has a lot to do in Puna where lava is flowing, it does recognize the "increasing S02 and ash hazard out here." He talked about lessons learned in 2008. When the volcano would send out a high level of S02, a community like the one around the golf course near Volcano Village would receive an alert; people would evacuate only to learn that the S02 was gone 20 minutes later. Shelter in place, he repeated.

     Plans were discussed to place more S02 and particulate monitors in such places as Nāʻālehu School and Kaʻū Learning Academy. Nāʻālehu residents asked that Nāʻālehu be added to the air quality reporting online that already delivers information on Volcano, Pāhala, and Ocean View.

     Residents talked about much needed help for Ocean View people, particularly those who have water catchment systems, unprotected by covers and tainted by ash. Those people need bottled water, not only to drink but for bathing, said several speakers. A Pacific Quest representative said that donations of bottled water for Ocean View will be accepted at their offices next to Bay Clinic in Nāʻālehu. Clarissa Pua, of Pāhala, said that she and her husband and pastor Troy Gacuyan have been taking water to Ocean View families.

Ash masks and educational materials and displays arrived at the
Kaʻū meeting on living with ash and S02. Photo by Julia Neal

     State health and Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory representatives talked about improving reporting, to include quicker notifications of ashfalls and the complexity of determining which ashfalls will come this way after explosive eruptions at Halemaʻumaʻu at the Kīlauea summit. HVO director Tina Neal said that the radar facility in Kaʻū is very good at seeing the ash coming this way, and is developing a way to communicate its observations with HVO and the public. More monitors are being placed througout the region. However, "There will always be an element of uncertainty," said Neal.

     Educational materials were handed out to the public on how to weather proof houses for ash fall and clean up afterwards. Pamphlets are entitled, Frequently Asked Questions on Vog from Kīlaeua Volcano; What can I do to protect myself from vog? and The Health Hazards of Volcanic Ash, A Guide for the public. See more from the meeting and these references
at www.kaunewsbriefs.com.

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A 5.3 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE SHOOK VOLCANO TODAY at 10:57 a.m. It was centered at Kīlauea Summit. Wendy Stovall of USGS told press today the summit of Kīlauea continues to experience activity, with many felt earthquakes. Subsidence continues. New radar images show the expansion of Overlook Vent from May 5 to May 29, from a 12-acre area to half of Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.

     At this time, due to the unsafe nature of the area, no scientists have gone close enough to determine if the ash explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu have included any more ejecta, such as rocks.

     Stovall also said one event that registered as quake was actually a pressure explosion.

Radar images from May 5, May 17, and May 29 show the extreme expansion of the Overlook vent in Halemaʻumaʻu Crater. Images from USGS

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AN ESCAPE ROUTE OUT OF LOWER PUNA from Kalapana to Chain of Craters Road is under construction. Jessica Ferracane of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park said the park and state Department of Transportation signed an agreement to create the alternate route. Residents in lower Puna are at risk of being cut off by lava flow that is making its way in several routes to the ocean.
     Today, crews began to clear a 0.7-mile long stretch of Chain of Craters Road. They are removing enough solidified lava from the 61g lava flow in 2016 and 2017 to create an evacuation-only one-lane gravel road. Ferracane said to expect the work to take “about a week or two in case there are any surprises.” She also said crews will be working to keep side effects low for such wildlife species as nene, the native Hawaiian goose, which are in the area.

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Lava flow map as of 9:00 a.m. HST, May 30, 2018. Given the dynamic nature of Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption, with changing vent locations, fissures starting and stopping, and varying rates of lava effusion, map details shown here are accurate as of the date/time noted—and could have changed rapidly since that time. Shaded purple areas indicate lava flows erupted in 1840, 1955, 1960, and 2014-2015. See large map. USGS map

EVACUATIONS OF KAPOHO AND VACTIONLAND in lower Puna are underway. Wendy Stovall of USGS told the press that the Lower East Rift Zone has seen some “pretty significant changes.” A “very rapidly advancing flow” of lava crossed Hwy 132 Tuesday afternoon. Fissure 8 is still producing up to 200 ft lava fountains, with flow nearing Four Corners, “advancing in pauses and surges,” as fast as 600 yards an hour, which is “very fast for this type of flow.” Stovall said the recent progress is “all surprises. This lava is the hottest we’ve seen during this event.”

     This afternoon’s overflight showed lava from Fissure 18 within 0.5 miles of Hwy 137. Stovall said F18 is pushing out a “voluminous amount” of lava. She said there was lava flow 0.6 mi. from Hwy 137 this morning.

     “Depending on where the flow crosses Noni Farms Rd., it could go into Vacationland,” said Stovall. Civil Defense alerted Kapoho and Vactionland to evacuate, with concerns that the alternate Beach Road will be cut off. Kapoho has seen that kind of lava inundation before: in 1960, over the course of a month, Kapoho was destroyed.

     Tom Birchard of NOAA said another factor in the evacuation was concern over power and communications potential to be cut off by the flows.

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A DRONE TEAM WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN SAVING A PUNA RESIDENT trapped by lava flow and forest. USGS states: "On Sunday, May 27, the Department of Interior Unmanned Aircraft Systems Kīlauea response team was conducting mapping missions in the lower East Rift Zone to monitor lava flow advancement rates and direction toward Highway 132 and populated areas. Around 7 pm the team launched an aircraft to assess the area in the northeast corner of Leilani Estates and identified a new outbreak of Pāhoehoe lava that was very rapidly moving north down Luana Street into a residential area.

     "The team notified the Emergency Operations Center and field operations of the flow and a need to evacuate the area between Makamae and Nohea Streets to the north of Leilani Avenue. The team began providing live video coverage of the flow's progress to emergency officials in the EOC, who dispatched police and fire units to clear residents off the street. The UAS team continued to provide live coverage of the breakout, and EOC personnel were able to use the information to guide their evacuation actions, including dispatching an emergency alert notification to anyone in the area. 

See video of a drone team aiding in the rescue of a man trapped  by lava on Sunday. USGS video

     "During the preflight of that aircraft, the team overheard radio transmissions that there was a civilian trapped at their residence on Luana Street. The team confirmed the location of the residence and flew into the area to assess if we could be of assistance. The individual was spotted and instructed to 'follow the drone to safety.' The individual began moving through the jungle toward Nohea Street, where the drone was hovering. While he was making his way through the jungle, the UAS team was able to track him visually (he was using a cell phone flashlight) and information about his location was relayed to the ground searchers.

     "After about 10 minutes of providing direction information to both the stranded person and the first responders, the search team was able to make contact and guide him to safety. The UAS team stayed onsite until the crews were clear of the area. The UAS team, field operations, and EOC worked the situation for 2.5 hours. In addition to the SAR mission the UAS team was able track the rate of advancement of the flow along Nohea Street and provide real time information to field operations and live video feed to the EOC regarding the rate and direction of the flow as well as any structures destroyed.

     "Coordination between field ops, the ground searchers, dispatch, the EOC and the DOI UAS team was very effective and we are proud to have been part of this effort. This video shows the UAS being used for aerial reconnaissance to assist in getting messages to emergency responders (seen using flashlights in the video) to rescue the resident." Video by the U.S. Geological Survey and Office of Aviation Services, Department of the Interior, with support from the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Live stream technology provided by NASA Ames.

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KONA CRUISE SHIP CANCELS VISIT DUE TO AIR QUALITY. Ross Birch, Executive Director of Hawaiʻi Island Visitors Bureau, said the expected cruise arrival for Kona this week was cancelled due to vog. He said for tourism in general, air quality for the entire island is the largest concern.
     Wind conditions for Wednesday, May 30, were forecast to result in widespread vog over the Island of Hawaiʻi, according to Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory.

     Air Quality Index reporting remains unavailable late today. Colors of the map for 7 p.m. indicate the air in Pāhala is good, with Ocean View and Kona moderate.
     SO2 levels in Pāhala, both locations in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, and Kona have recorded as good since midnight. Ocean View was mostly good, with scattered spikes of moderate levels – at most, 0.20 parts per million – in the early afternoon.
     See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see the University of Hawaiʻi air quality predictions on its VMAP.

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.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

*Events marked with an asterisk may be affected due to the closure of the main part of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park and other eruption activity. All Volcano Art Center activities and most exhibits have moved to the Center's Ni‘aulani Campus.

FRIDAY, JUNE 1
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Jun 1-29 (closed Jun 11), Ka’ū. Nā’ālehu: Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263. Ocean View: Ocean View Community Center, Mon & Tue, 8-1pm. Pāhala: Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue & Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See hceoc.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-LIHEAP-APPLICATION.pdf for eligibility requirements and application.

23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Fri-Sun, Jun 1-3, Honokōhau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-$3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 2
23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Sat-Sun, Jun 2-3, Honokōhau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-$3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

“Libraries Rock” Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, Jun 2 - Jul 14, statewide & online. Register (starting Jun 2) and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, & adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.
yART Sale! Gigantic Rummage Sale, Sat, Jun 2, 8:30-2pm, Volcano Art Center’s Hale Ho‘omana. Benefits VAC programs and workshops. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

*Stewardship at the Summit, Jun 2, 8, 16, 23, & 29, 8:45am, meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

Stained Glass Basics II, Sat & Sun, Jun 2, 3, 9 & 10, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center. Prerequisite: Stained Glass Basics I. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member, plus $30 supply fee. Register in advance. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Jun 2, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit's newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3
23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Sun, Jun 3, Honokōhau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-$3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

Stained Glass Basics II, Sat & Sun, Jun 3, 9 & 10, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center. Prerequisite: Stained Glass Basics I. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member, plus $30 supply fee. Register in advance. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
Palm Trail, Sun, Jun 3, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, Jun 3, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, JUNE 4
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Mon/Tue/Wed, Jun 4 & 5 (Committees)/6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, Jun 4 & 18, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Mon, Jun 4, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 5
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Tue/Wed, Jun 5 (Committees)/6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Volunteer Clean-Up w/Hawai‘i Outdoor Institute, Tue, Jun 5, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 4-6pm, Jun 19, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6
Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Wed, Jun 6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

AdvoCATS, Wed, Jun 6, 7-5pm, Ocean View Community Center. Free Cat Spay & Neuter Clinic. 895-9283, advocatshawaii.org

*Open Mic Night, Wed, Jun 6, 6-10pm, Kīlauea Military Camp's Lava Lounge in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Singers, Bands, Comedians, etc. Call 967-8365 after 4pm to sign up. Open to authorized patrons and sponsored guests 21 years+. Park entrance fees apply. kilaueamilitarycamp.com

NEW & UPCOMING

GROW ME THE MONEY: RECORD-KEEPING PRINCLPLES AND BEST PRACTICES for farmers and food producers, Saturday, June 30, 3 to 6pm, at Kaʻū District Gym.

     Learn practical tips and key steps for organizing and maintaining a record keeping system for your agribusiness, including seed (bean)-to-sale tracking and developing standard operating procedures. Maile Woodhall, agricultural outreach specialist at The Kohla Center, will be the keynote speaker.

     Tuesday, July 17, Kaʻū District Gym will host another Kohala Center workshop: Business Capitalization and Funding Services. Discover loan, grant, and financial incentive programs for your business, and learn best practices for applying for USDA funding from Megan Blazak, agricultural business development specialist at The Kohala Center.

     Free; registration required. Contact Megan Blazak, 887-6411, or koha.la/growmoney

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.

ONGOING
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Jun 1-29 (closed Jun 11), Ka’ū. Nā’ālehu: Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263. Ocean View: Ocean View Community Center, Mon & Tue, 8-1pm. Pāhala: Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue & Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See hceoc.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-LIHEAP-APPLICATION.pdf for eligibility requirements and application.

*Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, online during park closure, through Jun 24. See volcanoartcenter.org for other exhibits and activities available at the Volcano Art Center's Ni‘aulani Campus.

Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade Registration Open, held June 30. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open, online at volcanorainforestruns.com. Fees, before Jul 31: 5K - $30, 10K - $35, 1/2 Marathon - $85. Race Day Sat, Aug 18, with staggered morning start times, from Volcano Village. Race Director Sharron Faff, 967-8240

5th Annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences at Volcano Winery, Sun, Sept 9. Tickets on sale Aug 1: volcanowinery.com or 967-7772. Live music by The Young Brothers; food & drink from local restaurants; award-winning wine and tea; tours of the vineyards.

5th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145. Fees, before Mon, Jul 9: 5K - $25, 10K - $35, and 1/2 Marathon - $45. Race Day Sat, Sept 22, 7am; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou, okaukakou.org

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Ka‘ū News Briefs Tuesday, May 29, 2018

Del Bothof, above, and Marie Bothof are keeping their Volcano Winery open during the volcanic activities at nearby Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, and
 invite the public to sign up for their annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser for The Volcano School of the Arts & Sciences. Photo by Julia Neal

‘YES, VOLCANO VILLAGE IS OPEN,’ says Volcano Winery owner Marie Bothof. Volcano Winery has remained open throughout the volcanic activity at nearby Haelmaʻumaʻu Crater. The staff is taking care of the vineyard, tea farm, winery, and store, and preparing for the fifth Harvest Festival Fundraiser for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, which happens on Sunday, Sept. 9.

     The limited-issue 200 tickets go on sale August 1 at volcanowinery.com or 967-7772. Marie Bothof, who owns the winery with her husband Del Bothof, said, “Can’t have more people here than that or it wouldn’t be fun for anybody! This year’s goal is $10K to pay for a white passenger van for the kids at The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences, to travel in for field adventures.”

Volcano Winery grows grapes and also tea. The tea leafs require some extra
washing with the recent ashfall from volcanic explosions at
Kīlauea Crater, but are fine, according to winery owners.
Image from Volcano Winery

     Harvest Festival features music, food, and wine under the stars with entertainment by The Young Brothers: Kiliona and Kalei Young, and Orlando Smith. Food and drink will be presented by chefs from local restaurants. Award-winning wine and tea comes from Volcano Winery. Participants will tour the vineyards.

     Marie Bothof told The Kaʻū Calendar today that the eruption has had an impact on their business – but not as bad as it could be. “We haven’t shut down a day yet.” She said the weekend of May 12 and 13 saw a drop down to 25 percent of their usual number of visitors. The next weekend, that number had risen a bit. The last weekend of May rose to almost 60 percent of the regular number. She said cruise ship passengers are calling to make sure that driving from Kona – since the ships won’t port in Hilo – is feasible. Bothof said she – and other business owners in Volcano – would like to let people know: “Yes, Volcano Village is open!”

     Local business owners will met Tuesday, May 29, to “try to put something together” to let people know the Village of Volcano is still open for business.

Harvested grapes in large buckets await crushing for wine
made in Volcano Village. Photo from Volcano Winery

     Concerning Volcano Winery orchards, ashfall, which has potential to damage plants, has not affected the winery too badly so far. “The most effect was on the tea harvest; we had to wash all the leaves before any fermentation – but it came off really good.” She said the grapes were “already past the flower stage,” so the ashfall hasn’t harmed them at all. “As the fruit grows, the ash will shed. We’ve lost about 15 percent” of the crop, Bothof said. She said there has been no vine death or leaf effects: “We’ve been very fortunate with the winds,” said Bothof, with only one day where she saw ash on cars. She said their catchment tanks have not yet been affected.

     Bothof said her main concern are the earthquakes: “The wine really sloshes in the vats.” She said the 6.9 magnitude quake only caused the loss of two wine glasses. The quake happened during a tasting, she said, and it “really shook over here. It was very exciting for the tasting group that experienced it – didn’t bother them a bit. They thought it was ‘part of the show’.”

     Volcano Winery is located 35 Piʻimauna Drive, the same road that goes to Volcano Golf Course.
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PUNA GEOTHERMAL VENTURE, WHICH PROVIDED 20 PERCENT OF THE ISLAND'S ELECTRICITY, COULD BE CLOSED PERMANENTLY or for a number of years. Lava flowed over several geothermal wells this week and was headed for more of them today. Lava also covered the main entry road to the facility in lower Puna, leaving only a back entrance for staff to return.
     Puna Geothermal Venture officials said that in addition to quenching the geothermal wells and
attempting to plug them, PGV's crew placed materials over them so that lava could possibly roll over the site without penetrating the equipment and wells. However, it is uncertain whether lava penetrated the workings of the wells that were covered in lava. Post lava flow excavating would determine whether the wells could be used again, PGV officials said during press conferences this week.

Volcanic glass particles fell on roads in Puna today.
Image from Big Island Video News

     PGV officials also said that it could be possible the lava could interact with oil in the geothermal wells, creating an odor - but didn't expect any fumes that are more dangerous to be released.

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LAVA DESTROYED 20 HOMES IN 24 HOURS in lower Puna in the past day, county Civil Defense reported. With fast moving pahoehoe from a lava pond that breached, the toll during May rose to 112 buildings and 71 homes.          

Pele's Hair, the volcanic glass that fell in lower Puna today, should be
avoided, as it can irritate and become embedded in skin,
said HVO scientists. Photo from USGS

     Lava also crossed Highway 132 today, cutting off the main road between Pāhoa, Kapoho, and Vacationland communities. Those residents will have to use Government Beach Road to drive toward Hilo and back to Pāhoa.
     In addition, area residents witnessed and received warnings about Pele's Hair falling in lower Puna. Pele's Hair is made of glass particles from the volcano, are sharp and an irritant to skin, and can become embedded.
    This evening, Civil Defense ordered people along Noni Farms Road and Hale Kamahina Road to "evacuate immediately" as more fast moving lava approached their homes.

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WHY SO MANY EARTHQUAKES AT KĪLAUEA SUMMIT AND VOLCANO VILLAGE? USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory released an explanation today, with 286 tremors in the last 24 hours:
     "The floor of Kīlauea Caldera continues to subside as pressure in the magma reservoir decreases in response to withdrawal of magma towards the East Rift Zone. This is the same process that caused the summit lava lake to drop out of sight within the Overlook Vent inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater.        

Interferogram from the European Space Agency’s Sentinel-1
 satellite showing ground motion between May 11 and May 17, 2018.
 During the same time period, a GPS station on the caldera floor
measured 65 cm (about 2 feet) of subsidence. Each colored “fringe”
 represents 2.7 cm (just over 1 inch) of motion between the
ground and the satellite and are added up to determine
the total displacement. Image from USGS

     "Deflation at Kīlauea’s summit has caused up to 1.5 meters (about 5 feet) of subsidence, which has stressed the faults around and within Kīlauea Caldera. This has led to numerous magnitude-3 or greater earthquakes, as well as many more smaller ones. The faults that are being stressed are shallow (likely less than 2 miles deep), so the earthquakes are shallow, which means that they have been widely felt by residents near the summit area."
     "Occasional larger ash explosions from Halemaʻumaʻu have resulted in abrupt increases in reservoir pressure (which appear as "inflationary steps" in ground tilt data); these inflations negate the effects of ongoing deflation for a period of hours to days. After each explosion, the faults within and around the caldera are less stressed and, therefore, produce fewer earthquakes. As time goes on, deflation again stresses the faults and the number of detected (and felt) earthquakes increases."
     HVO reviews the history of the similar event in 1924, when high rates of earthquake activity were observed during the summit
eruption. Volcano resident Margaret Finch wrote to her father on May 15, 1924, “... and the earthquakes were awful. Some were a slow swaying motion, while others gave you a nasty vicious shake. I hate them all. I want to run whenever I feel one. There must be at least a hundred quakes a day…and probably a great many more than that.”
     According to HVO, "It appears that a process similar to now was at work back then. We expect earthquake production to continue as long as the summit continues to deflate, but the rate and magnitude of earthquakes will vary in response to explosions. In 1924, based on known historical records, no earthquakes related to summit subsidence caused significant damage.

 See the animation showing a sequence of radar amplitude 

images acquired by the Italian Space Agency's Cosmo-SkyMed

 satellite system. The series shows changes to the caldera area of 

Kīlauea Volcano that occurred over May 5 at 6:12 a.m. HST, 

May 17 at 6:12 a.m. HST, May 21 at 6:12 a.m. HST, and 

May 29 at 6:12 a.m. HST. Animation from USGS

     "In 1960, earthquakes occurring in the summit area during subsidence caused some minor damage in Volcano. In 2018, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park have seen some damage from these earthquakes, and the potential for damaging earthquakes during this eruption persists. In addition to preparing for ashfall, summit area residents should consider earthquake preparedness as part of their home and business safety plans."
   
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AIR QUALITY INDEX REPORTING IS UNAVAILABLE late today. However, the colors of the map indicate the air in Pāhala is good, but Ocean View and Kona are in the red - a measurement that indicates the overall air quality is unhealthy for all groups.
     SO2 levels in Pāhala were unhealthy for sensitive groups for almost half the time of recorded reporting since midnight; the levels are good as of 9 p.m. Ocean View was similar, with more spikes, but is reported as being unhealthy for sensitive groups as of 9 p.m. Both Volcano reporting sites showed a couple spikes since midnight; levels are good as of 9 p.m. Kona showed as good all day.
     See AirNow. See Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory. Also see the University of Hawaiʻi air quality predictions on its VMAP.

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.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment. 

See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, and weekly events. 

Print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes 

throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano, and free on 

stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.

WEDNESDAY, MAY 30

Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed, May 30, 9-11am, St. Jude's Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Seniors 60 years & older encouraged to attend, ask questions, and inquire about services offered through Legal Aid Society of Hawai‘i - referral required from Hawai‘i County Office of Aging at 961-8626 for free legal services. Under 60, call 1-800-499-4302. More info: tahisha.despontes@legalaidhawaii.org, 329-3910 ext. 925. legalaidhawaii.org

Meeting on Ash and S02, Wed, May 30  at Kaʻū District Gym Multipurpose Room,

     U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will explain the ongoing eruptions of ash and S02 from Halemaʻuma`u, as well as laze from lava ocean entries and other risks.
     Also on hand will be a lung specialist, representatives Emergency Medical Services, Kaʻū Hospital, and the state Department of Health - Hazard Evaluation and Emergency Response Office, and Clean Air Branch.

     County Council member Maile David said she hopes to attend. Also attending will be representatives of the Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency.

CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Ku‘i Kalo Demonstration, Wed, May 30, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Make poi, staple food of traditional Hawaiian diet. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

Summer Learn-To-Swim Registration, Wed & Thu, May 30 & 31, 1-4pm, Pāhala Swimming Pool (Ka‘ū High School Campus). hawaiicounty.gov/pr-aquatics/, 928-8177

THURSDAY, MAY 31

VA Medical Services, Thursdays, May 31, 8:30-noon, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Summer Learn-To-Swim Registration, Thu, May 31, 1-4pm, Pāhala Swimming Pool (Ka‘ū High School Campus). hawaiicounty.gov/pr-aquatics/, 928-8177

FRIDAY, JUNE 1
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Jun 1-29 (closed Jun 11), Ka’ū. Nā’ālehu: Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263. Ocean View: Ocean View Community Center, Mon & Tue, 8-1pm. Pāhala: Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue & Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See hceoc.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/2018-LIHEAP-APPLICATION.pdf for eligibility requirements and application.

23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series, Fri-Sun, Jun 1-3, Honokōhau Club House. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 per boat, $25 additional. Cash prizes $100-$3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies for Las Vegas Trip. Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, kalanihale.org

SATURDAY, JUNE 2
Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, Jun 2 - Jul 14, statewide & online. Register (starting Jun 2) and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, & adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

 yART Sale! Gigantic Rummage Sale, Sat, Jun 2, 8:30-2pm, Volcano Art Center’s Hale Ho‘omana. Benefits VAC programs and workshops. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

MAY BE CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: May Stewardship at the Summit, Jun 2, 8, 16, 23, & 29, 8:45am, meet Paul and Jane Field at Kīlauea Visitor Center in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

Stained Glass Basics II, Sat & Sun, Jun 2, 3, 9 & 10, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center. Prerequisite: Stained Glass Basics I. $90/VAC Member, $100/non-Member, plus $30 supply fee. Register in advance. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Realms and Divisions of Kahuku, Sat, Jun 2, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i VolcanoesNational Park. Moderately difficult, two-mile, guided hike on Kahuku Unit's newest trail, Pu‘u Kahuku, explores the traditional Hawaiian classification system. Bring snack.

SUNDAY, JUNE 3
Palm Trail, Sun, Jun 3, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderately difficult, 2.6-mile loop traverses scenic pastures along an ancient cinder cone, with some of the best panoramic views Kahuku has to offer. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, Jun 3, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

MONDAY, JUNE 4

Hawai‘i County Council Meetings, Mon/Tue/Wed, Jun 4 & 5 (Committees)/6 (Council), Hilo. Mon/Tue, Jun 18 (Committees)/19 (Council), Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, Jun 4 & 18, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Mon, Jun 4, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JUNE 5
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Volunteer Clean-Up w/Hawai‘i Outdoor Institute, Tue, Jun 5, contact in advance for meet up time at Wai‘ōhinu Park. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 4-6pm, Jun 19, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, Jun 5, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.

NEW AND UPCOMING

23rd Annual Kona Classic Jackpot - Classic Fishing Tournament Series is Friday through Sunday, June 1 through 3, at Honokōhau Club House in Kona. All profits go towards marine conservation and youth educational programs in and around Miloli‘i. $300 entry fee, 4 people per boat - $25 per additional person. Modified Jungle rules.

     Cash prizes range from $100 to $3,000. Qualifying weights: Marlin, 100lbs; Ahi, 50lbs; Mahi, 15lbs; Ono, 15lbs. Grand Prize qualifies winner for Las Vegas Trip.

     Upcoming tournaments are 1^st Annual Hawaiian Wicked Tuna Jackpot Series, July 20-22, and Miloli‘i Classic, Aug 31-Sept 2.

     Contact Wilfred Kaupiko, 896-6272, kalanihale@gmail.com. Sponsored by Kalanihale, a non-profit comprised of ten-pus generation descendants. The goals of the organization are to increase community participation in cultural activities, increase fish stocks, and promote community cohesion, “made achievable by hula protocol as a vessel to view… the world from a local perspective inundated with cultural pieces that transmits to all other Hawaiian practices,” states the release. See more at kalanihale.org

ONGOING

Park Rangers invite the public to downtown Hilo to learn about the volcanic activity, to get their NPS Passport Book stamped, and to experience the Hawaiian cultural connection to volcanoes. Rangers are providing programs at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center at 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Tuesday through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

Sign Up for the Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, to be held June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

5^th Annual Harvest Festival Fundraiser for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences at Volcano Winery Sun, Sept 9. Only 200 tickets available; on sale Aug 1 at volcanowinery.com or 967-7772. Live music by The Young Brothers; food & drink from local restaurants; award-winning wine and tea; tours of the vineyards.

Tūtū and Me Offers Home Visits to those with keiki zero to five years old: home visits to aid with helpful parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Home visits are free, last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, for a total of 12 visits, and snacks are provided. For info and to register, call Linda Bong 464-9634.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Calls For More Volunteers for the Saturday community outreach. Especially needed are cooks for the soup served to those in need, and organizers for the hot showers. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's April newsletter. Volunteer by contacting Dave Breskin at 319-8333.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

5th annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run registration open. Race day Sat, Sept 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Register online before Mon, July 9: 5K, $25/person; 10K, $35/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $45/person. From July 9 to Aug 11: $30/person, $40/person, and $45/person, respectively. From Aug 13 to Sept 20: $35/person, $45/person, and $55/person. Race day registration ends Sat, Sept 22, at 6:30 a.m. Event organizers, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou; start location, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill.

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.