Sen. Mazie Hirono grilled Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen on Tuesday, Jan. 16, on the national oversight
of state emergency warning systems and on DACA. See and hear Hirono.
SOME 15,000 PEOPLE RECENTLY LOST THEIR DACA STATUS, Sen. Mazie Hirono told Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen Tuesday morning, Jan. 16, in a U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. The Secretary of Homeland Security said she was unaware of the 15,000 and would look into it. She pointed out that a number totaling 21 lost their status through committing crimes.
Hirono and other Senators, who support a path to citizenship for young people who grew up in the U.S. after being brought here illegally by relatives, grilled the Secretary of Homeland Security on the immigrants' future. The Senators are seeking what they call a "clean" DACA bill, without demands from the Trump administration, which include building a wall along the southern border of the U.S. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
The Trump administration seeks to end DACA, which would lead to deportation of those living in the U.S. under DACA. On Tuesday, the Trump administration filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower federal court's ruling that DACA must stay in place while legal challenges play out in court.
Hirono and other Senators, who support a path to citizenship for young people who grew up in the U.S. after being brought here illegally by relatives, grilled the Secretary of Homeland Security on the immigrants' future. The Senators are seeking what they call a "clean" DACA bill, without demands from the Trump administration, which include building a wall along the southern border of the U.S. DACA stands for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
The Trump administration seeks to end DACA, which would lead to deportation of those living in the U.S. under DACA. On Tuesday, the Trump administration filed an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a lower federal court's ruling that DACA must stay in place while legal challenges play out in court.
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| Secretary of Homeland Security Kristjen Nielsen, before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, where she was questioned by Sen. Mazie Hirono |
The Homeland Security Secretary said the federal government provides a backbone for alert systems, but that it was the State of Hawaiʻi's decision on how to use the system.
Hirono asked whether the Secretary has the authority to convene state emergency managers to make sure that every state's alert system works properly. Hirono also asked whether Nielsen has a role in setting standards and ensuring that state emergency management agencies use best practices.
The Homeland Security Secretary said that she will work with the states to make sure they can quickly verify whether an alert is accurate.
Hirono also asked her whether the Department of Homeland Security had been aware of Hawaiʻi not having a way to respond quickly to a false alarm. The Secretary said she was unaware before the incident and promised to make sure that all states have a fail safe way to cancel any false alert more quickly. Hirono also asked to work with Homeland Security to make sure all the states and Guam improve. See the excerpt from the hearing.
After the hearing, Hirono released a statement saying, “Today, I secured a commitment from Secretary Nielsen to strengthen federal-state cooperation on emergency alerts, assess potential human and systemic failures, and improve overall readiness in Hawaiʻi and across our country. I will continue to pursue all avenues of investigation to learn what happened on Saturday and keep it from happening again.”
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Brigadier General Kenneth Hara will review the state's
emergency management response system, that erred in
sending out a false alert of a ballistic missile headed to
Hawaiʻi on Saturday.
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Ige also spoke to the public with an apology, and turned to the world situation leading to threats of nuclear attacks. "Hawaiʻi knows how to stand strong and defend itself. But
we must also work for a more peaceful world. We must
demand a de-escalation with North Korea, so sirens and
warnings become a thing of the past.
In the words of Martin Luther King, Junior, who we
remember today, 'The time is always right to do what is
right,'" said the governor.
Ige also spoke of public response to the false alert, saying that people should not be turned away from stores where they were seeking shelter. Families should not have to go down manholes for shelter, nor drive at high speeds on the freeway when alerted. He promised more public education.
In his Executive Order, the governor noted that residents of "Hawaiʻi, with a population of approximately 1.4 million across eight inhabited islands, are susceptible to a myriad of natural and man-made
hazards." He pointed out that "Hawaiʻi is located in the most remote location on Earth separated by
great distances and travel time from the continental United States." The governor acknowledged that "Hawaiʻi's location in the Pacific makes it a highly strategic location
for government and military interests which necessitates additional emergency
management coordination and preparation," and that "Hawaiʻi's location and vulnerability to multiple hazards has helped
Hawaiʻi continue to develop an emergency management system intended to protect the
public from all natural and man-made hazards."
"As part of Hawaiʻi's preemptive and protective measures, Hawaiʻi officials have been actively working on warning and response plans that include alerting the public as early as possible in order to maximize preemptive and protective actions to protect the public," states the Executive Order.
"WHEREAS, on January 13, 2018, an emergency warning of an actual ballistic
missile launch was inadvertently issued during a shift change drill conducted by the
State Warning Point; and
WHEREAS, this false alarm resulted in significant response actions at all levels
and sectors in Hawaiʻi; and
WHEREAS, while Hawaiʻi's emergency management system is highly evolved,
this recent false alarm reinforces the need for continued improvement of all emergency
management plans and operations," the Executive Order states.
"As part of Hawaiʻi's preemptive and protective measures, Hawaiʻi officials have been actively working on warning and response plans that include alerting the public as early as possible in order to maximize preemptive and protective actions to protect the public," states the Executive Order.
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| Gov. David Ige addresses the public after signing an Executive Order to review the emergency response system. See and hear the speech. |
It directs "Brigadier General, Kenneth S. Hara, currently serving as the
Deputy Adjutant General of the State of Hawaiʻi, Department of Defense, to review the
current emergency response system, including notifications and warnings, and make
recommendations for improvement with such review to include:
1. Facilitating efforts to identify capability and resource gaps and develop an
action plan that recommends prioritization for resources required to
enhance resilience, preparedness, and response capabilities.
2. Identifying actions to strengthen and expand government, private, and
public partnerships for preparedness for all hazards.
3. Revising and recommending emergency notification procedures to ensure
immediate notification, confirmation, or cancellation of threats. 4. Strengthening information sharing, collaboration, and communication.
5. Improving public education to help the public know what to do when an
alert goes out.
6. Produce an initial action plan no later than 30 days of this executive order,
a final report no later than 60 days of this executive order, and identify any
portions of these documents that should not be released to the public for
security or other legal reasons." See and hear Ige's speech.
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HAWAIʻI RANKS NEAR THE BOTTOM IN RETIREMENT AFFORDABILITY and other qualities for retirement life, according to a WalletHub analysis released on Tuesday, Jan. 16."With almost 30 percent of all non-retired adults having no retirement savings or pension, WalletHub today released 2018's Best & Worst States to Retire," says a WalletHub statement. WalletHub compared the 50 states across 41 key metrics. The data set ranges from adjusted cost of living to weather to quality of public hospitals.
Hawaiʻi ranks 50th in the categories of Adjusted Cost of Living and Elderly-Friendly Labor Market. It ranks 44th in Annual Cost of In-Home Services, meaning that Hawaiʻi is one of the most expensive. It ranks 43rd in Property-Crime Rate, meaning that there is a lot of it, and 40th in Health-Care Facilities per capita. Hawaiʻi ranks relatively high in being tax friendly for retirees - number 20, according to WalletHub. Read the report at wallethub.com/edu/best-and-worst-states-to-retire.
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Volcanic ash in this bucket is a gold mine for H.V.O. researchers,
who will explain what it means at the Jan. 23rd After Dark in the Park at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Photo from U.S.G.S. |
VOLCANIC ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park.
Pele's hair, Pele's tears, and other ash are produced by bursting gas bubbles in the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The amount of ash erupted daily ranges widely owing to short-term fluctuations in vigor of spattering. The monthly amount of ash, however, varies systematically with time, reflecting changing lake levels, which, in turn, varies with the rate of magma supply. A press release from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park states, "The methodical collecting of ash unexpectedly discovered a magma supply that pulses over several-month periods - the first such pulsing recognized at any volcano."
The illustrated lecture, presented by U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson, demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.
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KA‘Ū TROJANS BEAT PĀHOA in boys basketball on home court Monday night, Jan. 15. Final score saw Ka‘ū with 49 points to Pāhoa's 47. Izaiah Pilanca Emmsley was the top scorer with 16 points. In the JV competition, Pāhoa got lucky, with 51 points. Ka‘ū scored 31. Top JV scorer for the Trojans was Kyson Toriano.
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE
Pele's hair, Pele's tears, and other ash are produced by bursting gas bubbles in the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit. The amount of ash erupted daily ranges widely owing to short-term fluctuations in vigor of spattering. The monthly amount of ash, however, varies systematically with time, reflecting changing lake levels, which, in turn, varies with the rate of magma supply. A press release from Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park states, "The methodical collecting of ash unexpectedly discovered a magma supply that pulses over several-month periods - the first such pulsing recognized at any volcano."
The illustrated lecture, presented by U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson, demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.
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.
KA‘Ū TROJANS BEAT PĀHOA in boys basketball on home court Monday night, Jan. 15. Final score saw Ka‘ū with 49 points to Pāhoa's 47. Izaiah Pilanca Emmsley was the top scorer with 16 points. In the JV competition, Pāhoa got lucky, with 51 points. Ka‘ū scored 31. Top JV scorer for the Trojans was Kyson Toriano.
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See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment at
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html. January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com. |
Boys Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 17, @ Kohala.
Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.
Girls Basketball: Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.
Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.
Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).
Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.
Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.
Girls Basketball: Friday, Jan. 19, @ Kealakehe.
Boys Soccer: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Honoka‘a.
Thursday, Jan. 25, @ Pāhoa.
Swimming: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ HPA.
Friday, Jan. 26, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, prelims).
Saturday, Jan. 27, @ Kamehameha (BIIF Championships, finals).
Wrestling: Saturday, Jan. 20, @ Hilo.
Saturday, Jan. 27 @ HPA.
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HAWAIIAN RANCHOS ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. MEETS Wednesday, Jan. 17, starting at 4 p.m., in the Hawaiian Ranchos office. For more, call 929-9608 or visit ranchos-road.org.
A VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Come and view informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. For more, call 939-7033, visit ovcahi.org, or email askHVO@usgs.gov.
WEAVE A TĪ LEAF LEI Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 10 a.m. to noon, on the Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hear park rangers and Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association staff share knowledge and love for one of the most popular lei in Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov
/HAVO.
HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.
STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME is hosted Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS AN ‘Alalā Outreach Presentation on Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.
STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 18, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." The event will take place again on Jan. 25. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.
A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITY takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is for keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 19, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.
BUNCO & POTLUCK takes place Saturday, Jan. 20, starting at 6 p.m., in Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Bunco is a popular game played with nine dice, also known as Bonko or Bunko. Bring a dish to share. For more, contact Margie Hack at 541-954-8297. See more at discoveryharbour.net.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.
A DOCUMENTARY POETRY WORKSHOP is offered with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches - poets and non-poets alike - the techniques of documentary poetry; a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events as well as expresses political, social, or cultural issues. The class is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.
A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.
THE ART EXRESS, a monthly class, is held Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Discovery Harbour Community Hall. Learn something new or work on a forgotten project. Instructions will be on oil, acrylic, watercolor, and other mediums. Class size is limited to 25. For more, contact Meliha Corcoran at 319-8989 or himeliha@yahoo.com, or visit discoveryharbour.net/art-express.
A VOLCANO AWARENESS PRESENTATION takes place Wednesday, Jan. 17, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. Come and view informative displays about Mauna Loa Volcano. Talk story with scientists, public safety officials, and park rangers. For more, call 939-7033, visit ovcahi.org, or email askHVO@usgs.gov.
/HAVO.
HAWAIIAN CIVIC CLUB OF KA‘Ū meets Thursday, Jan. 18, starting at 6:30 p.m., at United Methodist Church in Nā‘ālehu. For more, call Pres. Berkley Yoshida at 747-0197.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION BOARD MEETS Thursday, Jan. 18, from noon to 1 p.m., at Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.
STORY TIME WITH AUNTIE LINDA FROM TŪTŪ & ME is hosted Thursday, Jan. 18, from 10:30 a.m. to noon, at Nā‘ālehu Public Library. For more, call 929-8571.
THURSDAY NIGHT AT THE VOLCANO ART CENTER OFFERS AN ‘Alalā Outreach Presentation on Jan. 18, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m., in Volcano Village. ‘Alalā Project staff present an update on the most recent reintroduction efforts to establish a wild population of the endemic and endangered Hawaiian crow. The presentation is free to attend - $5 donation appreciated. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.
A GLITTER SNOWFLAKE ARTS & CRAFTS ACTIVITY takes place at Kahuku Park (92-8607 Paradise Circle Mauka, Ocean View) on Friday, Jan. 19, from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. The class is for keiki ages 6 to 12 years. Register Tuesday, Jan. 16, through Jan. 19. For more, contact Hawai’i County Parks and Recreation Technician Teresa Anderson at 929-9113 or visit hawaiicounty.gov/recreation.
STEWARDSHIP AT THE SUMMIT takes place Friday, Jan. 19, with volunteers removing invasive, non-native plant species that prevent native plants from growing in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Interested volunteers should meet Paul and Jane Filed at Kīlauea Visitor Center at 8:45 a.m. Other opportunities this month take place Jan. 26. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more see nps.gov/HAVO.
OCEAN VIEW COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM meets Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Ocean View Community Center. For more, call 939-7033 or visit ovcahi.org.
A DOCUMENTARY POETRY WORKSHOP is offered with Author Susan M. Schultz on Jan. 20, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Volcano Art Center. Schultz teaches - poets and non-poets alike - the techniques of documentary poetry; a form of poetry that seeks to document historical events as well as expresses political, social, or cultural issues. The class is $35 for Volcano Art Center members and $40 for non-members. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org.
A MONGOLIAN BBQ is hosted Saturday, Jan. 20, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Kīlauea Military Camp’s Crater Rim Café in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. For more, call 967-8356 or visit kilaueamilitarycamp.com.
PEOPLE & LAND OF KAHUKU, a free, guided hike takes place on Sunday, Jan. 21, from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., within Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. The 2.5-mile, moderately difficult hike takes participants over rugged terrain and focuses on the area's human history. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.
HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.
HEATHER METTLER'S GLASSWORK - handblown, chiseled, and etched - is showcased in a new Volcano Art Center Gallery Exhibit: Passage and Place. The display will continue to be displayed until Sunday, Feb. 11, during normal gallery hours - 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily. Mettler's unique collection of glass explores the themes of migration, navigation, and immigration - how plants, animals, and people find their way to Hawai‘i. Free; park entrance fees apply.
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