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| Kīlauea Military Camp, above, welcomes guests during the partial shutdown of federal government. Volcano House, Volcano Art Center, displays at Kīlauea Visitor Center, and Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store are open, along with a number of park trails and overlooks. Photo from Kīlauea Military Camp |
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| Volcano House is open for dining, shopping, and lodging. Photo from MacArthur Sotheby's Realty |
While the Kahuku Unit near Ocean View is closed, the public is able to enter the Volcano park gate at no charge.
Kīlauea Visitor Center exhibits and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store will be open, though the Kīlauea Visitor Center Theatre, which shows films to visitors, is closed. Also open are Volcano Art Center Gallery, Kīlauea Military Camp, and Volcano House, with their lodging, restaurants, and stores. Kīlauea Military Camp Theatre remains open.
According to staff members at Volcano House, managers met late today to determine how to proceed with many guests checking in to accommodations and dining. They said the Park assured them the main gate to the Park will be open. Volcano House is operated by a private contractor able to pay its employees. Volcano Art Center Gallery and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staffs work for non-profits, and KMC has separate funding. However, many National Park employees faced furloughed at 7 p.m. and will be unable to return until the government is funded.
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fireplace, Christmas in the Country, and 19th Invitational Wreath exhibits. Photo from VAC |
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| Kīlauea Visitor Center displays and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association store remain open during the government shutdown. Photo from KVC |
Hirono said federal workers will suffer, and noted she signed onto a bill for retroactive pay for those essential employees who work during the shutdown without paychecks, and those furloughed through no fault of their own.
Sen. Brian Schatz tweeted:
"Let's give a shout out to our extraordinary federal workforce. They
are the ones being harmed by this nonsense, not any member of Congress."
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A midwinter dawn at Halemaʻumaʻu on
beneath the summit caldera of the volcano. In the background, the first rays of sunlight illuminate Uēkahuna Bluff.
USGS photo by E. F. Younger
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The field day
begins with a summit weather check at first light. It is a reflective moment at
6:15 a.m. atop Kīlauea Volcano, and
the fumarole cracks are steaming like the coffee from my thermos. The weather
at Halemaʻumaʻu crater is cool and dry, with light trade winds from the
northeast. We hope for these mornings.
I text my
workmates at USGS HVO in Hilo . The
plans are a "go" – our sampling crew is heading to Keller Well. My
checklist for today's field work reads: water, rain jacket, extra-long tape
measure…
I am one of a team of volcano scientists
and technicians making this trip. Our destination is a 1,262 m (4,140 ft) deep
borehole, locally called Keller Well, that is the only one of its kind on Kīlauea 's
summit. Since it was drilled in 1973, it has provided researchers with a view
into the hydrology and history of an active volcano. Our mission today is
to measure the groundwater level in the well, 506 m (1,660 ft) beneath the
surface – where the groundwater level was when it was last measured 9 months
ago – and to bring up a scalding hot water sample. I continue checking my list:
2 m (6 ft) metal sampler tube, clean sample bottles…
My HVO and USGS
Volcano Science Center Kīlauea caldera,
sits at 1,102 m (3,615 ft) above sea level. The rim of the Halemaʻumaʻu lava
lake of 2008–2018 used to be about 1 km (0.62 mi) to the north.
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| Watch video of a drone overflight of Kīlauea Caldera after the last of the collapses. Video from USGS |
At the wellhead,
a capped stub of pipe protrudes from the barren, ash-caked landscape. We set up
the large tape measure reel and lower the electric continuity sensor into the
well. It descends quickly as we spool out the calibrated graduations into the darkness
below. Down through the porous rock, we follow the path of a fallen
raindrop, moving through varied layers. Some are highly porous, while others
are choked by mineralization that formed as liquid water was converted to steam
by geothermal heat. Ash layers confine the free movement of the groundwater,
while cracks and other voids can conduct large flows.
Suddenly,
the alarm at the surface buzzes madly, signaling the tape circuit is complete.
The downhole sensor has reached the water table! We have arrived at the Mountain
of Water
Hidden beneath the
surface of the volcano island, this mountain within has a character all its
own. Its topography is constantly changing, seeking balance between discharge
and recharge, pressure and heat. Beneath Kīlauea 's
summit, the altitude of the water mountain is remarkably high compared to
nearby areas outside the volcanic rift zones. We measure the tape, 508 m (1,667
ft) to the reference mark on the wellhead; the groundwater is 2.1m (7 ft) lower
than it was in March, before the eruption of 2018.
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| 1973 map of Kīlauea, showing (circled in red) where Keller Well was drilled. USGS map |
Today's field
work marks one new data point in a long series of observations at Keller Well.
Only time and concerted effort will reveal its context within the larger story.
Volcano Activity Updates
December 18, at 1:44 a.m. , a magnitude-2.8 earthquake occurred
12 km (7 mi) SSE of Volcano at 3 km (2 mi) depth.
Deformation
signals are consistent with refilling of the middle ERZ. Sulfur dioxide
emission rates have been below detection limits in the lower ERZ since early
September, though minor amounts of volcanic gas are still present. Sulfur
dioxide emission rates were last measured at ~35 tonnes per day at both the
summit and ERZ, consistent with the past few months of emissions from Kīlauea .
The
USGS Volcano Alert level for Mauna Loa remains
at NORMAL .
Visit volcanoes.usgs.gov/hvo
for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea
and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps,
recent earthquake info, and more. Call 808-967-8862 for weekly Kīlauea
updates. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.
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CUSTOMERS WHO LEFT PAYMENTS AT HAWAI‘I ELECTRIC LIGHT COMPANY DROPBOX IN HILO at 1200 Kīlauea Ave. between
HELCO is investigating the theft of payment envelopes. Video surveillance shows a man prying the payment box open late Friday evening, Dec. 14, according to a statement from HELCO. The utility says they are working with authorities to investigate the incident.
As a reminder, customers should not place cash payments in the drop box, says the announcement.
For other payment options, visit hawaiielectriclight.com.
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| Caution: Fun at the Library. Yesterday's Cookie Decorating event at Nāʻālehu Public Library - held safely outside, away from books - was a successful afternoon of sticky fingers and creative keiki. See more photos and story, below. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
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| A keiki, showing off his cookie creation at Nāʻālehu Public Library yesterday. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
Contact Nā’ālehu Public Library Branch Manager Sara Kamibayashi, at 939-2442, for more details on next year's event.
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| Safety first: This keiki, garbed in an apron, just might make it to the sprinkle stage before getting covered in frosting. Photo by Geneveve Fyvie |
gram
and Twitter. See our online calendars and our latest print edition
at kaucalendar.com.
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.
Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
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Kaʻū High Winter Sports Schedule
Girls Basketball:
Dec. 17, Mon., host PA, 6pm
Dec. 19, Wed., host Kohala, 6pm
Dec. 22, Sat., host JV Christian Liberty, 2pm
Jan. 4, Fri., host Hilo 6pm
Jan. 7, Mon., @Honokaʻa, 6pm
Jan. 9, Wed., @Kamehameha, 6pm
Boys Basketball:
Dec. 18, Tue., @Keaʻau
Dec. 22, Sat, host Parker
Dec. 27, Thu., @Kealakehe
Jan. 3, Thu., host Honokaʻa, 6pm
Jan. 5, Sat., @HPA, 6pm
Wrestling:
Dec. 22, Sat., @Oʻahu
Jan. 5, Sat., @Waiakea
Soccer:
Dec. 19, Wed., host HPA
Dec. 22, Sat., host Waiakea
Dec. 29, Sat., @Kona
Jan. 3, Thu., Girls @HPA
Jan. 5, Sat., Boys host Kealakehe
Jan. 7, Mon., @Hilo
Jan. 9, Wed., @Keaʻau
Swimming:
Dec. 29, Sat., @Kamehameha, 10am
Jan. 5, Sat., @KCAC, 10am
NEW and UPCOMING
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Nā‘ālehu Tee Ball team learning and practicing new skills.
New members welcome. See story for details.
Photo by Geneveve Fyvie
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Practice for Ocean View Tee Ball, from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., and Coach Pitch, from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., continues through winter break on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kahuku Park in Hawaiian Ocean View Estates. Tee Ball team is accepting 5 and 6 year olds, while the Coach Pitch team accepts 7 and 8 year olds.
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Stewardship at the Summit, Sat., Dec. 22. Meet Paul and Jane Field at 8:45am in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park at Kīlauea Visitor Center. Volunteers help remove invasive, non-native plants species that prevent native plants from growing. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and long pants. Bring hat, rain gear, day pack, snacks, and water. Gloves and tools provided. Parental/guardian accompaniment or written consent required. Free; however, park entrance fees apply. No advance registration required. nps.gov/havo
Kīlauea Crisis Support Group Meeting, Sat., Dec. 22,
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23
‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, Dec. 23, 9:30-11am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Learn about vital role of ‘ōhi‘a lehua in native Hawaiian forests, and many forms of ‘ōhi‘a tree and its flower on this free, easy, one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo
MONDAY, DECEMBER 24
Candlelight Christmas Eve Service, Mon., Dec. 24, 7pm, Nā‘ālehu Methodist Church. Lessons and Carols service where Christmas story will be told, interspersed with Christmas carols. Everyone is welcome. 929-9949
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 25
Christmas Day Buffet, Tue., Dec. 25, 4-7pm, Kīlauea Military Camp's Crater Rim Café, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Entrees: Prime Rib, Roast Turkey w/Stuffing, Holiday Lamb Stew. $28.95/Adult, $15.95/Child (6-11 yrs). KMC open to all patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. 967-8356, 967-8371
Kōkua Kupuna Project, Wed., Dec. 26, 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
How to Make Haupia - ‘Ike Hana No‘eau (Experience the Skillful Work), Wed., Dec. 26, 10-2pm, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Made from the pia root (arrowroot) and mixed with coconut milk or cream, then steamed, boiled or baked into a pudding, haupia is a popular and authentic cultural dessert. Free; park entrance fees apply. Co-sponsored by Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association. 985-6011, nps.gov/havo
Craft Class, Thu., Dec. 27, 9:30-10:30am, PARENTS, Inc., Nā‘ālehu. For keiki 2-12 years old and caregivers. Free. 333-3460, lindsey@hawaiiparents.org
Ka‘ū Community Children's Council, Thu., Dec. 27, 12-1:30pm, Punalu‘u Bake Shop. Monthly meeting provides local forum for all community members to come together as equal partners to discuss and positively affect multiple systems' issues for the benefit of all students, families, and communities. Chad Domingo, text 808-381-2584, domingoc1975@yahoo.com, ccco.k12.hi.us
Volcano Friends Feeding Friends, Thu., Dec. 27, 4-6pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Free community dinner for all. Additional packaged goods to take home - for those in need. Donations and volunteers encouraged. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org
Nature & Culture: An Unseverable Relationship, Sat., Dec. 29, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Moderate guided hike along the Palm Trail, approx. 2 miles. Learn about native plants that play a vital role in Hawaiian culture, and observe the catastrophic change and restoration of the land as it transitions from the 1868 lava flow to deeper soils with more diversity and older flora. Free. nps.gov/havo
Kīlauea Drama & Entertainment Network's A Gilbert & Sullivan Christmas Carol runs through Dec. 23, with shows on Friday and Saturday at 7:30pm, and Sunday at 2:30pm. The show performs at Kīlauea Military Camp Theater inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Tickets are $20 per person, cash or check, available at door. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. KDEN, 982-7344
Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.
Christmas in the Country and 19th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibition are open at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘iVolcanoes National Park, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Christmas in the Country runs thro ugh Wednesday, Dec. 26. Enjoy an abundance of art and aloha as VAC creates a merry scene of an old-fashioned Christmas inside its 1877 historic building. In addition to artwork, find unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments, and decorations made by Hawai‘i Island artists, including VAC exclusives.
The Wreath Exhibition is available through Tuesday, Jan. 1. The exhibition presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques, and styles, from the whimsical to the traditional, with this year's theme of Home for the Holidays - inspired by the four month closure of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Admission is free; Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
Substitute School Health Assistant Positions are available. Qualifications: CPR and First Aid certifications, and a high school diploma or equivalent. Training begins in 2019. Contact Kristy Loo for more at look@hkkk.k12.hi.us.
Christmas in the Country and 19th Annual Invitational Wreath Exhibition are open at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i
Admission is free; Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8222, or visit volcanoartcenter.org.
Registration for P&R Boys & Girls, T-Ball/Coach Pitch Baseball League open through Jan. 16, Kahuku Park, H.OV.E. For ages 5-8. Programs run Jan. 22-Apr. 18, game and practice times tba. 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
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