Friday, January 19, 2018

Ka‘ū News Briefs Friday, January 19, 2018

The U.S.G.S. scientist responsible for the latest maps of Mauna Loa, Frank Trusdell, explains a point to Ocean View
 residents Steve Lewis, Peter Bosted, and Don Coons. See story below. Photo by Ann Bosted
HAWAI‘I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK made plans to largely close for visitors, during the federal government shutdown that went into effect after midnight on Friday, Washington D.C. time. The federal administration announced that many workers at national parks, the post offices, FAA, TSA, and the military will remain on the job, their facilities open. However, HVNP will be closed due to the volcanic hazards and management required to keep visitors safe.
     Sen. Mazie Hirono said, "Nobody wants a shutdown. Except maybe the President, who seems to relish a government shut down as a way of shaking things up no matter who gets hurt."
     In the past, the shutting down of the federal government led to closure of the five federal parks on this island. This time, most public roads in and through parks will remain open, but some campgrounds and concessions could be closed. Culturally sensitive and back-country trails could be closed, according to statements from the Department of the Interior.
     The federal government shut down with a failure to fund it Friday night, as congress wrestled with paying for children's health care insurance, and solving the problem of deporting the DREAMer young people who were brought to the U.S. illegally when they were children but are now good citizens.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is expected to remain open after the
federal government shut down after midnight, D.C. time on Friday. 
NPS photo
     The Senator released a statement late Friday, Hawai‘i time, saying, "Tonight, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, and Donald Trump turned things upside down. They've spent the past year working behind closed doors to take away health care from millions of people and pass huge tax cuts for the richest people and corporations in our country without input from Democrats or the public. At the same time, they've ignored reauthorizing the Children's Health Insurance Program, funding Community Health Centers, protecting DREAMers, and providing parity between defense and non-defense programs. All of these issues have bipartisan support and should have gotten done months ago."
     Said Hirono, "Republicans are in charge of the House, the Senate, and the Presidency. They are in charge of setting the time table and the agenda, and now they're blaming the Democrats for their own misplaced priorities.
     "Congress is a separate branch of government. Instead of bowing to the unpredictable, mercurial, and unreliable positions of the President, we should do our jobs and send the President a government funding bill that addresses all of these priorities."

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

WHEN MAUNA LOA ERUPTS and sends its lava down its steep slopes, it will happen quickly, and the warnings may be very short. In the event of an eruption, U.S.G.S. will notify County of Hawai‘i Civil Defense, which will issue warnings and alerts by phone, siren, Twitter, and Facebook messages.
     These were some of the many messages delivered during the two-hour U.S.G.S. poster presentation Mauna Loa: Let's Talk Story. The event drew about 100 residents Wednesday evening to Ocean View Community Center.
Michael Zoeller, a GIS specialist from University of Hawaii, assigned
 to U.S.G.S., explains the newest maps to Francis Mitchell of Ocean 
View (at the back). In foreground is Tina Neal, Scientist-in-Charge
 of U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. These lava inundation maps
 attracted a lot of interest as they are able to predict where the
 lava would flow. Photo by Ann Bosted
     To mark January as Volcano Awareness Month, U.S.G.S. invited the public to bring questions, talk story, circulate among the posters and interview the many U.S.G.S. personnel standing ready with explanations on a variety of subjects related to the mountain that many call home.
     Talmadge Magno, County Civil Defense Administrator and former National Park Service Ranger, was also on hand to answer questions about emergency preparedness.
     Christina "Tina" Neal, Scientist-in-Charge of the U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, circulated among residents to ensure that no questions went unanswered. Neal was impressed with the large turn out and the obvious interest that residents manifested in the future of the mountain on which they live. Mauna Loa is the largest mountain, by volume, on the planet.
     Neal also appeared enthusiastic about the latest maps from U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, showing which areas are likely to be inundated by lava, should either the southwest fissure or the northeast fissure erupt. The maps for various areas can be downloaded from this link: pubs.er.usgs.gov.
     Ingrid Johanson, a geophysicist at the U.S.G.S., fielded a lot of questions from the exhibit attendees. She was the one who emphasized that, while the exact location and time of an eruption on Mauna Loa cannot be predicted, it will happen quickly. Warnings may be much shorter for Mauna Loa eruptions than those at Kīlauea volcano. She gave the example of Pahoa, where the lava flow from Kīlauea slowly approached
Carolyn Parchetta compares Kīlauea and Mauna Loa eruptions 
for Lynn Gordon of Ocean View and Robert Thomas
 of Santa Barbara. Photo by Ann Bosted
the town over a period of a few months in 2014.
     Michael Zoeller, a GIS specialist who works for the University of Hawai‘i and helps U.S.G.S., said that he received a lot of questions from the public attendees who wanted to know what the inundation maps mean. As the co-author, with Frank Trusdell, of the Lava Inundation Zone Maps, he said he hopes that the public and the Civil Defense authorities will use the maps to plan their response to eruptions.

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

CONCERNING COVERT SURVEILLANCE PROGRAMS of non-U.S. persons, without warrants, Sen. Mazie Hirono, on Thursday, voted against S.139, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments Reauthorization. The bill passed the Senate on a 65-34 vote, sending the legislation to the President.
     "Congress authorizes covert intelligence programs under FISA for a limited duration so that these programs can be reviewed, debated, and reformed to balance our national security needs with the constitutional rights of the American people," said Hirono. "The bill we voted on today failed to meet this basic standard. This legislation needed more open debate and a process where we could have offered amendments. The fact that it will likely not be revisited by Congress for six years goes against our country's core principles."
     Section 702 of FISA establishes procedures that allow the U.S. government to conduct surveillance on non-U.S. persons who are in foreign countries. The provision also gives the Attorney General and Director of National Intelligence the authority to jointly authorize the targeting of non-U.S. persons outside the U.S. for up to one year at a time, without a formal court warrant. However, under these authorities, the government collects massive amounts of data that has included communications of Americans in the U.S.
     Despite calls for reform of these data collection procedures by civil liberties advocates, S. 139 renews 702 authorities for six years and fails to prevent controversial information gathering that sweeps up Americans’ information, nor does it provide stronger safeguards for Americans if their information is collected, said Hirono.
     Hirono is a co-sponsor of S. 1997, the bipartisan USA RIGHTS Act. This bill would reform FISA 702 programs by: preventing controversial information collection practices; requiring explicit warrants in instances where communications by Americans are necessary to collect foreign intelligence; prohibiting the use of information collected under 702 from being used against Americans unless they are implicated in crimes related to national security such as terrorism; and strengthening oversight of the 702 program, among other provisions. This legislation has been endorsed by civil liberties advocates such as the American Civil Liberties Union.

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  LEARNING ACADEMY has announced a fundraiser dinner at the campus this Saturday, Jan. 20. Billed as Gilligan's, the name of the restaurant that raised money to start the Charter School, the event, from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m., will help sponsor students going to Washington, D.C. Live music and food are on the menu.

HOLY ROSARY CHURCH in Pāhala has announced a Thrift Sale for Saturday, Jan. 20, from 8 a.m. to noon. Everyone is welcome. The church is located on Pikake Street in Pāhala.

A LA‘AU LAPA‘AU BEGINNER LEVEL CLASS, shared by Po‘okela Ikaika Dombrigues, has been announced by Hui Mālama Ola Nā ‘Ōiwi to take place at Ka‘ū District Gym (across from Ka‘ū High School) in Pāhala in February. The class, free and open to the public, will be held on three separate Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon - Feb. 3, 17, and Feb. 24.
     To sign up or for more details, call (808) 969-9220 and ask for the Traditional Health team. Visit hmono.org to learn more about the organization.

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.

Kumu Hula Stephanie Apolo.
Photo from Volcano Art Center
HULA VOICES RETURNS THURSDAY, FEB. 1, with Kumu Hula Stephanie Apolo, announces Volcano Art Center. Desiree Moana Cruz will moderate the event with Apolo.
     "Hula Voices presents an engaging, intimate ‘talk story’ session with Hawaii Island's hula practitioners who eat, sleep and live lives centered on the practice of hula and its associated arts. Hear from kumu hula, long time haumana (students) and artisans whose lives are centered around the practice of hula and its associated arts. Join us for an engaging, informative, and fun hour as they share their hula genealogy, including the traditions, protocols, experiences, inspirations for songs, chants and Hawaiian choreography based in antiquity," says the event description.
     From the age of four, Apolo practiced hula with Hula Master George Lanakilakeikiahi-ali‘i Naope, and danced with him until he retired. After Naope retired, she danced for other Kumu, including Iwalani Kalima, Etua Lopez, Ray Fonseca, Francis Henry Pohukaina "Kaina" Keana‘aina, Raylene Ha‘alelea Lancaster, and Hulali Solomon Covington.
     The free, educational event will occur regularly on the first Thursday of each month (excluding April and Dec. 2018), from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Hula Voices is supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawai‘i Dept. of Research and Development and the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority. Park entrance fees apply. See more at volcanoartcenter.org.

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 at 
See Ka‘ū exercise, meditation, daily, weekly events at 
kaucalendar.com/janfebmar/januarycommunity.html.
January print edition of The Ka‘ū Calendar is
free to 5,500 mailboxes throughout Ka‘ū, from Miloli‘i 
through Volcano. Also available free on stands throughout
the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com.
KA‘Ū TROJANS SPORTS SCHEDULE

Boys Basketball: Saturday, Jan. 20, Kohala @ Ka‘ū.
     Tuesday, Jan. 23, @ Wai‘ākea.
     Saturday, Jan. 27, HPA @ Ka‘ū.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A HULA KAHIKO PERFORMANCE FEATURES NA KUMU PELEHONUAMEA HARMON AND KEKOA HARMON with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo on Saturday, Jan. 20, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the kahua hula (hula platform) in the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.
     A Nā Mea Hula demonstration follows, on the Volcano Art Center Gallery lānai with Native Hawaiian Practitioner Ka‘iulani Carvalho from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. For her Nā Mea Hula debut, Carvalho will present a workshop on the art of ‘Ohe Kāpala, bamboo stamping. For more, see volcanoartcenter.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.

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.

Aerial photo of the Discovery Harbour Community.
Photo from discoveryharbour.net
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.

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.

H.O.V.E. ROAD MAINTENANCE CORP. meets Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 10 a.m., in their office in Ocean View. For more, visit hoveroad.com, or call 929-9910.

HAWAI‘I COUNTY COUNCIL committees meet Tuesday, Jan. 23, with a full council meeting on Wednesday, Jan. 24. Both meeting days take place in Kona. Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building. Agendas at hawaiicounty.gov.

VOLCANO ASH FROM KĪLAUEA VOLCANO'S SUMMIT LAVA LAKE: from the mundane to the unexpected, an After Dark in the Park presentation, takes place Tuesday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m., in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. This is an illustrated lecture in which U.S.G.S. Hawaiian Volcano Observatory geologist Don Swanson demonstrates how systematic, long-term collections of ash erupted from the lava lake at Kīlauea's summit can lead to surprising but fundamental discoveries. Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit nps.gov/HAVO.

REGISTER KEIKI BY THURSDAY, JAN. 24, FOR ‘O KA‘Ū KAKOU'S 10TH ANNUAL Keiki Fishing Tournament, held on Saturday, Jan. 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., at Punalu‘u Beach Park Pavilions. The event is open to keiki from one to 14 years old, with pick-up & drop-off locations for registration forms at: Nā‘ālehu Elementary School, Nā‘ālehu Ace Hardware, Pāhala Elementary School, Mizuno Superette in Pāhala, Pāhala Gas Station, Wiki Wiki Mart in Nā‘ālehu, Ka‘ū Learning Academy, Kahuku Country Market in Ocean View, and Ocean View Auto Parts. Pre-registration ends at 5 p.m. on Jan. 24. Register at event from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Fishing until noon, then lunch and prizes. Every participant gets a prize. Grand and mini-grand prize drawing - including personal tablets. For more, call Guy Enriques at 217-2253 or Wayne Kawachi at 937-4773, or visit okaukakou.org.

STEWARDSHIP OF KĪPUKAPUAULU takes place at 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 25, with volunteers meeting in the Kīpukapuaulu parking lot on Mauna Loa Road off Hwy 11 in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Volunteers will help remove invasive plants, like morning glory, from an area said to be home to an "astonishing diversity of native forest and understory plants." Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, contact Marilyn Nicholson at nickem@hawaii.rr.com or visit nps.gov/HAVO.
Lifecycle of Coffee Berry Borer. Image from CTAHR
U.H. COLLEGE OF TROPICAL AGRICULTURE AND HUMAN RESOURCES Kona Cooperative Extension Service has put out a save the date announcement for two Coffee Berry Borer 101 Workshops for New and Beginning Coffee Farmers.
     The free two-hour class teaches the basics of coffee berry borer identification, biology, and management. It is planned for Thursday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 27, and will take place in the Kona Cooperative Extension Service office at 79-7381 Mamalahoa Highway in Kealakekua. Representatives of the Extension Service office ask everyone to "Please let new coffee farmers know about this upcoming workshop. A flyer will be distributed and available soon."
     For more details, visit hawaiicoffeeed.com.

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.

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.