Kaʻū News Briefs Sunday, September 9, 2018

Image from ssd.noaa.gov

A TROPICAL STORM WATCH is issued for Hawaiʻi Island, and most of the state, as Hurricane Olivia approaches. As of 5 p.m., Olivia was 650 miles east northeast of South Point, traveling west at 12 miles per hour, with winds of 75 mph. This motion is expected to continue for the next 12 to 24 hours, with some slowing in forward speed. A west-southwest motion is expected to begin later Monday. Olivia's Tropical Storm force winds are forecast to approach Kaʻū Tuesday afternoon and night.

Image from ssd.noaa.gov

     At 11 a.m. today, Central Pacific Hurricane Center forecaster R. Ballard reported on a possible restrengthening of Olivia. A "persistent eye feature has redeveloped and deep convection has been blowing up around the center. In fact, Dvorak Data-T numbers climbed back up to 4.5 from all 3 satellite fix agencies. However, the highest flight level wind was only 65 kt, and the SFMR winds were even lower. Given Olivia's recent improved presentation on satellite and a central dropsonde pressure of 988 mb, I would be hard-pressed to lower the intensity below hurricane strength, and decided instead to leave the current intensity at 65 kt, but this is somewhat uncertain and may be generous." He also reported that a Hurricane Hunter plane flew into Olivia today with some conflicting data retrieved and will make another run to help understand her.

Image from ssd.noaa.gov

     The later run, reported on at 5 p.m., still shows "an indistinct but persistent eye." The key message, according to prh.noaa.gov/cphc, is to not focus on the exact forecast track and intensity when planning for Olivia. Continue preparing for the likelihood of direct impacts, which could include intense flooding rainfall, damaging winds, large and dangerous surf, and storm surge. Significant effects often extend far from the center. In particular, the mountainous terrain of Hawaiʻi can produce localized areas of strongly enhanced winds and rainfall, even well away from the tropical cyclone center.

     Tropical storm conditions are possible, with winds above 39 mph, starting Tuesday. Rain forecasts are 10 to 15 inches, with isolated amounts over 20 inches. Large swells generated by Olivia are expected to continue to build, and may become damaging on some exposed east facing shores Tuesday or Wednesday.

     Civil Defense reports the County will not be distributing sandbags until active flooding occurs: "Please take the necessary precautions to prepare your property if you live in a flood prone area, and secure your vessels in harbors. This is also a good time to make sure your emergency plans are updated." More information on hurricane preparedness can be found at hawaiicounty.gov/emergency-preparedness.

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Towing The Ocean Cleanup boom to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch began on Saturday. Photo from The Ocean Cleanup

Boyan Slat raised $34.5 million to launch a cleanup for the
Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Photo from
youtube.com/watch?v=du5d5PUrH0I

THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH BETWEEN HAWAIʻI AND CALIFORNIA drew a bright idea from 24-year-old Boyan Slat, who raised $34.5 million and launched a cleanup on Saturday. The Ocean Cleanup mother ship left San Francisco Harbor and headed toward Hawaiʻi, towing a boom that will surround a section of the floating plastic waste. The boom, called System One, is ten feet tall, and will collect drifting trash over time. Crews from The Ocean Cleanup nonprofit organization will haul the trash onto the ship and take it away for recycling.

     The venture followed a Mega Expedition with boats and an Aerial Expedition to measure the trash in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. The Ocean Cleanup reported that "results are alarming: around 80 million kg of floating plastic debris of various size and shape, principally made of Polyethylene and Polypropylene, accumulated in an area three times the size of continental France. Concentrations of microplastics, representing the majority of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces inside the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, have been increasing exponentially since the 1970s, when researchers began observing quantities of tar and plastic floating in the North Pacific Ocean to more recent and consistent observations in the 2000s and 2010s."

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch floats between Hawaiʻi and
California. Image from youtube.com/watch?v=du5d5PUrH0I

     The Ocean Cleaunup's website, theoceancleanup.com, explains the bigger picture: "Over five trillion pieces of plastic currently litter the ocean. Trash accumulates in five ocean garbage patches, the largest one being the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, located between Hawaiʻi and California. If left to circulate, the plastic will impact our ecosystems, health, and economies. Solving it requires a combination of closing the source, and cleaning up what has already accumulated in the ocean."

Ocean Force One conducted the first ever aerial survey of an ocean
garbage patch. Photo from theoceancleanup.com 

     Slat said on Saturday: "Today's launch is an important milestone, but the real celebration will come once the first plastic returns to shore. For 60 years, mankind has been putting plastic into the oceans; from that day onwards, we're taking it back out again." See short films on his project at youtube.com/watch?v=du5d5PUrH0I and theocean
cleanup.com/milestones/aerial-expedition.

     The use of the boom comes from Slat's idea: "To catch the plastic, act like the plastic: Waves, winds and currents make the plastic move in a certain manner. The same forces will act on our roaming systems (the booms), causing them to gravitate to the areas in the garbage patch with the highest concentration of plastic."

A selection of large objects observed in the Great Pacific
Garbage Patch during the Aerial Expedition.
Photo from theoceancleanup.com 

     Once successful, and if funding is available, The Ocean Cleanup aims to scale up to a fleet of approximately 60 systems focused on the Great Pacific Garbage Patch over the next two years. "This is in line with The Ocean Cleanup's ultimate goal: reducing the amount of plastic in the world's oceans by at least 90 percent by 2040." The more cleanup systems released, the more plastic will be collected. Computation models show a full-scale deployment will lead to a 50 percent reduction of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch in five years, according the The Ocean Cleanup.

     In addition to developing technology to extract plastic from the ocean, The Ocean Cleanup proposes to reuse the material once it is back on shore. "Initial work on ocean plastic recycling shows our material can be turned into high quality products. Imagine your next phone, chair, car bumper, or sunglasses could be made from plastic retrieved from the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. By selling our branded material for reuse, we aim to eventually make the cleanup self-sustainable."

     Follow Boyan Slat on Twitter and see theoceancleanup.com.

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Webcam of Puʻu ʻŌʻō Sunday, with no sign of the plume that
followed several small collapses Saturday.
Photo from Big Island Video News

SEVERAL SMALL COLLAPSES AT PUʻU ʻŌʻŌ yesterday produced episodes of visible brown plume throughout the day, reports USGS Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory. The most prominent plume was at about 10:30 a.m., and generated small tilt offsets and seismic energy recorded by nearby geophysical instruments. The collapses had no discernable effect on other parts of the rift.

     Tiltmeters in Kīlauea's middle East Rift Zone continue to record small amounts of inflationary tilt, which may be a sign of refilling of the rift zone. The rates have been steady over the past week and did not show a short-term change following yesterday's collapses at Puʻu ʻŌʻō.

     Seismicity and ground deformation remain low at the summit of Kīlauea. On the lower East Rift Zone, minor amounts of incandescence and fume continue to be visible within the Fissure 8 cone, with small lava flows; none have extended outside the walls of the cone.

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Olivia, east of Hawaiʻi, at 5 p.m. today, is still unpredictable,
but Gov. Ige is arming the state to deal with the aftermath.
Image from ssd.noaa.gov

AN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION AHEAD OF HURRICANE OLIVIA was signed today by Gov. David Ige. A statement from his office said it would provide relief for disaster damages, losses, and suffering caused by Hurricane Olivia. "Even if Olivia arrives as a Tropical Storm, as predicted, Hawai‘i is in danger of experiencing high winds, heavy rains, high surf, storm surges, and flooding that threaten to harm communities and cause extensive damage to public and private property across the state."

     The proclamation declares the counties of Hawai‘i, Maui, Kalawao, Kaua‘i, and the City and County of Honolulu as disaster areas for the purpose of implementing emergency management functions. The proclamation also authorizes the expenditure of state monies as appropriated for the speedy and efficient relief of damages, losses, and suffering resulting from Hurricane Olivia.

     "We're monitoring this storm closely and taking steps now to ensure that we're prepared for its impacts to the state. A tropical storm could bring heavy rain and flooding, especially in places that are saturated from previous storms. Now is the time to prepare," said the governor.

     The emergency proclamation expires on September 17, 2018.

Coach Ke talking to his team. Photo from Kaʻū Trojan's Twitter

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KAʻŪ TROJANS WALKED AWAY VICTORIOUS at the first Fall football game. Played against Pāhoa on Thursday night at Keaʻau Field, Kaʻū scored 20 against their opponents' 6. During the third quarter, the lights went out on the field – a casualty of an outage that affected over 25 percent of HELCo's customers. The game was called, and an Athletic Administration ruling decided the final scores.

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KAʻŪ TROJANS FALL SPORTS SCHEDULE

Football:

   Sat., Sept. 15, 1pm, @ Kohala
   Sat., Sept. 22, 3:30pm, host Lanai @ Keaʻau
   Sat., Sept. 29, 11am, host Pāhoa

   Sat, Oct 6, 12pm, host Kohala

   Sat, Oct 13, BIIF Semi-Finals at Kamehameha

Girls Volleyball:
   Wed., Sept. 12, 6pm, @ Christian Liberty
   Fri., Sept. 14, @ Kamehameha
   Mon., Sept. 17, 6pm, host Lapahoehoe
   Wed., Sept. 19, 6pm, host Kohala
   Thu., Sept. 20, 6pm, @ Honokaʻa
   Tue., Sept. 25, 6pm, @ HPA
   Fri., Sept. 28, 6pm, host Kona
   Mon., Oct. 1, 6pm, host HAAS

   Tues, Oct 2, 6pm, @ Kealakehe

   Fri, Oct 5, 6pm, host Keaʻau

   Wed, Oct 10, 6pm, @ Parker

   Fri, Oct 12, 6pm, host St. Joseph

Cross Country:
   Sat., Sept. 15, 10am, Keaʻau
   Sat., Sept. 22, 9am, @ HPA
   Fri., Sept. 28, 6pm, host Kona
   Mon., Oct. 1, 6pm, host HAAS

   Sat, Oct 6, 2pm, @ Kealakehe

   Sat, Oct 13, BYE

NEW and UPCOMING

HMSA AND SHARECARE WILL GIVE $500,000 MONETARY DONATIONS TO FIVE LOCAL CHARITIES, by the end of the year, through an ongoing program that began in July and extends through this November. Participants are asked to download the Sharecare app to their devices, take the RealAge test - for which the organizations will donate $5 - and to earn green days by keeping track of personal daily activities to lower RealAge results and improve health - for which the organizations will donate an additional dollar for each green day earned.
     During the month of September, HSMA and Sharecare aim to donate up to $100,000 to the Special Olympics Hawai‘i. The event announcement released by HMSA and Sharecare states "Special Olympics Hawai‘i believes that through sports training and competition, people with intellectual disabilities benefit physically, mentally, socially and spiritually. Families are also strengthened, and the community at large can participate in and observe an environment of equality, respect and acceptance."

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MONDAY, SEPT. 10

Kaʻū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon., Sept. 10 and 24, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Kaʻū. Contact prior to attending to confirm location in case of field trip. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

TUESDAY, SEPT. 11

C.E.R.T. Discovery Harbour/Nāʻālehu, Tue., Sept. 11, 4-6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Public invited to see what Community Emergency Response Team is about, and participate in training scenarios. Dina Shisler, dinashisler24@yahoo.com, 410-935-8087

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12

Volcano Bay Clinic Mobile Health Unit Visits: Dental, Wed., Sept. 12, 8-5pm; Medical, Thu., Aug 27, 1-5pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Must be Bay Clinic, Inc. patient. Medical services offered last Thursday of every Month; Dental, second Wednesday. Call 333-3600 to schedule appointment. See Cooper Center June newsletter for details. thecoopercenter.org

Arts and Crafts Activity: Dove Foldable For Peace, Wed., Sept. 12, 3:30-5pm, Pāhala Community Center. For keiki in grades K-8. Register Sept. 4-11. Free. hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation, 928-3102

THURSDAY, SEPT. 13

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū and Me, Thu., Sept. 13, 10:30-noon, Nāʻālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Kaʻū, Thu., Sept. 13, 6:30pm, United Methodist Church in Nāʻālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

FRIDAY, SEPT. 14

Free Community Dance, Fri., Sept. 14, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snack provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

SATURDAY, SEPT. 15

Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund "Get the Drift and Bag It" International Coastal Cleanup, Sat., Sept. 15, contact in advance for meet up time at Waiʻōhinu Park. 4WD needed, some space available but limited. RSVP. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Palm Trail, Sat., Sept. 15, 9:30-12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi 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

John D. Dawson Studio Sale, Sat.-Sun., Sept. 15-16, 10-3pm, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Volcano Village. Sale includes original acrylic and watercolor paintings, rough sketches, and pen and ink drawings from decades of work as a well-known professional illustrator. Special preview to VAC members Fri., Sept. 14, 4-6pm. Contact Emily C. Weiss, 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org.

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Meeting, Sat., Sept. 15, 10-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team Monthly meeting/training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Paul Neves w/ Hula Hālau Kou Lima Nani E, Sat., Sept. 15, 10:30-11:30am, hula platform near Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hula performance. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula w/ Loke Kamanu and ʻOhana, Sat., Sept. 15, 11-1pm, Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus, Volcano Village. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free. Desiree, 987-7288, volcanohula@gmail.com, volcanoartcenter.org

Potluck and Dance, Sat., Sept. 15, 5:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Live music by Shootz Band. BYOBeverage. $5/ticket. Register at office by Sept. 12. Discovery Harbour Community Association, 929-9576

Bunco and Potluck, Sat., Sept. 15, 6pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring dish to share. Margie Hack, 541-954-8297

SUNDAY, SEPT. 16

Kaʻū ʻOhana Day: Picnic In The Park, Sun., Sept. 16, 12-3pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park; entrance near 70.5 mile marker on Hwy 11). Family-friendly event. Shave ice, food vendors, children's activities, hula, and music. nps.gov/HAVO

ONGOING

5th Annual Kaʻū Coffee Trail Run Registration Open, online at webscorer.com/register?raceid=128145. Fees through Sept. 10: 5K, $35/person; 10K, $45/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $55/person. Fees Sept. 11-20: 5K, $55/person; 10K, $65/person; and 1/2 Marathon, $75/person. On Race Day, $75 per person, any race. Race Day is Sat., Sept. 22, 7 a.m.; begins and ends at Kaʻū Coffee Mill, kaucoffeemill.com. Event organizers: ʻO Kaʻū Kākou, okaukakou.org.

Activities at Kahuku Park - within Hawaiian Ocean View Estates - over the next two months, include two physical activities, three arts and crafts activities, and a Park Beautification Day.
     For all ages:

     - Friendship Bracelets: Wed., Sept. 19, 3 to 4 p.m. Registration open through Sept. 14.
     - Park Beautification Day: Fri., Sept. 28, 1:30 to 4 p.m. Registration open Sept. 19 through 26.
     Activities are free to attend. For more, call Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit the park during business hours: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, from 12:45 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. and Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

Free Arts and Crafts Activities at Pāhala Comunity Center happen on Wednesdays in September, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m., through the end of Sept., for keiki in Kindergarten through 8th grade.

     - Sept. 12: Dove Foldable For Peace. Register through Sept. 11.
     - Sept. 19: Handprint Tree Art. Register Sept. 13 through 18.
     - Sept. 26: Beaded Wind Chime. Register Sept. 19 through 25.
     For more, call 928-3102 or visit the community center during business hours: Monday-Thursday and Saturday, from noon to 8 p.m., or Friday, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. See hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation.

Tūtū and Me Traveling Preschool’s Temporary Nāʻālehu Location is Kauahaʻao Church in Waiʻōhinu. Meeting days and times remain the same: Mondays and Wednesdays, from 8:45 to 10:45 a.m. Pāhala site program meets Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., at Pāhala Community Center.
     Tūtū and Me also offers home visits to those with keiki zero to five years old, to aid with parenting tips and strategies, educational resources, and a compassionate listening ear. Free. Visits last 1.5 hours, two to four times a month, total of 12 visits. Snacks are provided.

     To enroll in either program, fill out enrollment forms found at pidf.org/programs/tutu_and_me/enrollment_forms, or call Linda Bong at 464-9634. Questions: Clark at 929-8571 or eclark@pidfountation.org.

Volunteers Needed by St. Jude's Episcopal Church for community outreach, especially soup cooks and shower organizers, towel laundry, alter guild, and for the computer lab. Volunteers do not have to be members of the church. "Volunteering for St. Jude's Saturday Shower and Soup ministry is an opportunity to serve God in a powerful way," states St. Jude's. Contact Dave Breskin, 319-8333.

Ocean View Vet Center Visits Suspended until further notice. Veterans, call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

Harmony Educational Services, Home Based Educational Programs - Open Enrollment through Oct 15; harmonyed.com/hawaii. Partnered with four local public charter schools, Harmony offers benefits of homeschooling with resources available to public schools. Interested families can also contact Rayna Williams at rwilliams@harmonyed.com or 430-9798.

Disaster Recovery Center open weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at Pāhoa Neighborhood Center at 15-3022 Kauhale St. See information applicants need to bring, or register online, at fema.gov/disaster/4366. If you are a survivor who has left the area, call 800-621-3362. Salvation Army distribution center at Pāhoa Community Center on Tue, Thu, and Sat, 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. To donate, contact 756-0306.

Find Your Park, invites Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, to kamaʻaina and tourist alike. Experience authentic Hawaiian cultural programs, guided hikes, After Dark events, and more from Kaʻū to Volcano to Hilo, while the partial closure of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park continues.

     Free of charge, with no entry fees, rangers offer new and familiar programs at Kahuku Unit, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, and Mokupāpapa Discovery Center and Prince Kūhio Plaza in Hilo.

Kahuku Unit

     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

     Regularly scheduled Guided Hikes, monthly Coffee Talk, daily Ranger Talks, with cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.

     Guided Hikes on Saturdays and Sundays begin at 9:30 a.m. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Can't make a guided hike but want to get to know Kahuku better? The Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park will tailor a customized trek just for you. Contact Friends through their website. Proceeds support Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.

     Coffee Talk, held the last Friday of the month, 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station. Dr. Frank Bonaccorsoreveals "A Day in the Life of ʻŌpeʻapeʻa - the Hawaiian Hoary Bat," and shares a 24-hour cycle of the only land mammal native to Hawaiʻi on Fri., Aug. 31.

     Ranger Talks introduce the natural, cultural and historic attributes of Kahuku on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.

     ʻIke Hana No ʻEau: Experience the Skillful Work Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m., at the Visitor Contact Station.

     Picnic in the Park: Join Kahuku for Hawaiian music and hula. Bring a picnic lunch or opt to buy lunch from food trucks on this family-friendly day. Supported by the Friends of Hawaiʻi VolcanoesNational Park. Sun., Sept. 16, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus

     Find Park Rangers in Volcano Village daily, at the Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus at 19-4074 Old Volcano Rd. Rangers are there 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to provide talks and answer questions about the current eruption.

     After Dark Near the Park at the Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus. Each event will have a different subject matter.

Mokupāpapa Discovery Center

     Find Park Rangers in downtown Hilo, Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Rangers provide daily eruption updates. At 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., they give a talk about all five of Hawaiʻi Island's volcanoes, including Kīlauea. Get NPS Passport Books stamped. Located at 76 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo.

Prince Kūhio Plaza

     Find Park Rangers alongside the park's non-profit partner, Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association, at their brand new mall store.

Grand Naniloa Hotel

     Find Park Rangers stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo on Sundays and Mondays from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Rangers provide eruption updates at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. The park film that is normally available to visitors at Kīlauea Visitor Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, is shown every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

     Park rangers also greet incoming arrivals at the Hilo International Airport, welcome cruise ship passengers as they disembark at the Port of Hilo, and inform visitors at ʻImiloa Astronomy Center most Sundays.

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