Ka‘ū News Briefs Thursday, May 10, 2018

Thomas Jaggar examines a 12 ton block ejected from Halemaʻumaʻu Crater onto the floor of Kīlauea
Caldera in 1924. Scientist warn that such an explosive event, driven by steam, could happen as soon as
Friday as the summit lake drops to a level where the lava could mix with groundwater. HVO photo

HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK SHUTS DOWN AT 9 P.M. TONIGHT until further notice. The park will close all areas but the Kahuku Unit off Hwy 11 near Ocean View.
     Park officials said they are concerned about the possibility of steam and rock explosions at Halemaʻumaʻu Crater that could be caused by lava mixing with groundwater. The likelihood becomes greater as the lava lake lowers toward the level of groundwater. The lava lake has been sinking for more than a week, as lava flows underground, away from the summit crater into lower Puna. Lava in the summit crater could reach groundwater as early as tomorrow, said scientists from Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
     A similar event happened in 1924, with blocks as heavy as 14 tons thrown from the crater, with explosions lasting for two and a half weeks. Halemaʻumaʻu more than doubled in size. The lava lake disappeared for many decades and only rose back up to its recent glory in 2009.

A dust cloud during the collapse of Halemaʻumaʻu crater floor in 1924.
HVO photo

     The National Park closure includes Kīlauea Military Camp and Volcano House accommodations, bars,
restaurants, and other concessions; Volcano Art Center Gallery; the KMC bowling alley and theatre; and Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park Post Office. Post office delivery will be switched to Volcano Village.
     Park officials said the steam explosions could be life-threatening, throwing rocks as large as 6 feet in diameter up to 0.6 miles away.
     Also expected is ashfall - either from rocks falling into the crater, creating ash explosions, like those rising as high as 6,000 feet on Wednesday, or from steam and rock explosions themselves.
     Tina Neal, USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge, told press conference attendees today that ash is "pulverized rock" and "not toxic, but an irritant." See article, below, about dealing with ashfall.
     When asked how much longer the volcanic events from lower Puna to Volcano would last, Neal responded they have historical precedence, not only in 1924 but also in 1955 and 1960, and may last between 36 and 88 days. When asked about "dramatic fountaining," such as seen in the 1984 eruption at Puʻu ʻŌʻō, Neal said such a spectacle could happen if fresh, gassier lava arrives at fissure points.

     Wes Thelen, of USGS Science Center, stated the magma has moved downrift, at least as far as Noni Farms Road in lower Puna; scientists do not know how much farther it will travel.
     As of noon today, there was no volcanic activity on the East Rift Zone and Leilani Estates residents were allowed back in their homes to gather belongings. Civil Defense reported that all of the pentane gas containers were removed from the Puna Geothermal plant, which remains closed, about a third of a mile from the nearest fissures that have opened with lava. Some residents near the geothermal plant have left their homes, saying they fear the lava will reach the plant and cause explosions.

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THE POSSIBILITY OF ASHFALL REACHING KAʻŪ from Halemaʻumaʻu has prompted preparation by members of the community. A guide available at Nāʻālehu library and online explains "the potential health effects of volcanic ash" and gives details on "how to protect yourself and your family in the event of a volcanic ashfall." Prepared by the International Volcanic Health Hazard Network, Cities and Volcanoes Commission, GNS Science, and the United States Geological Survey, it is designed "to promote the safety of those who experience volcanic ashfall."
     Some simple steps to be taken during ashfall include limiting time outdoors, closing windows and doors, and wearing protective clothing and face coverings. Various masks from those blocking only dust, to those blocking chemicals, have been going on sale at stores in Kaʻū.
     The pamphlet can be viewed and downloaded.

SO2 made air unhealthy before dawn this morning, but improved over the day
in Pāhala, though readings were unavailable this afternoon and evening.
Graph from state Department of Health

AIR QUALITY VARIED IN KA‘Ū TODAY, with some reports of ashfall in Pāhala and Waiʻōhinu. In both Pāhala and Ocean View, the SO2 reached levels unhealthy for sensitive groups during the period before dawn, but cleaned up for the morning. The readings were unavailable in the afternoon and evening in Pāhala but showed healthy readings in Ocean View.
Ocean View showed a moderate reading for particulates this evening, with no data for Pāhala.

     See more at Hawaiʻi Short Term SO2 Advisory, and at airnow.

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A WATER ADVISORY WAS ISSUED BY HAWAIʻI VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK today. Chlorine levels in the park have lowered. The cause “is suspected to be related to recent elevated seismic activity at the Kīlauea summit. Staff members are flushing the system and raising chlorine levels back to normal. The park recommends not drinking the water until "the work is complete and we update this message,” states the Park website.

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MORE DAMAGE TO LAND AND STRUCTURES, EXPLOSIVE ACTIVITY WITH ROCKS AND ASH could be on the horizon for the ongoing eruption of Kīlauea Volcano.
     Tina Neal, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge, is making presentations to the press and community groups, explaining the science and possible outcomes.

Tina Neal, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory Scientist-in-Charge,
discussed possible future scenarios about the eruption. Photo from USGS

     With the beginning of the new activity over the past week, Neal states, another flow has ended. The 61g flow that became famous in recent years for shooting bright red lava "hoses" and "lava falls" into the Pacific Ocean at Kamokuna in lower Puna, and creating a new boating industry to watch the lava from the ocean - is over. The supply to 61g, coming from a fissure on Puʻu ʻŌʻō's east flank, was cut off during the last week with the lowering of the magma column at Halemaʻumaʻu. The 61g is "essentially dead," said Neal.
     Neal noted that Puʻu ʻŌʻō is “quiet,” with no lava or eruptive activity, but very pink ash is coming out when rocks fall into the vent.
     The new lava coming out of the ground in lower Puna is from magma in Halemaʻumaʻu, said Neal, saying the eruption is  “still in the open phase.”  HVO scientists are recording the movement of the lava from Halemaʻumaʻu down through the East Rift Zone.

     The East Rift Zone has been under a lot of stress, which caused the many earthquakes, said Neal, the largest up to magnitude 6.9. She said that the stress creates cracks, steaming cracks, and cracks emitting gas, followed by the fissures emitting lava, referring to the 15 fissures in the Leilani Estates area where lava erupted, covered 117.38 acres and destroyed 36 structures, along with roads and other infrastructure.

     She said the ground in lower Puna "is already very broken, so you could say it does not take a lot of work for this magma to break the surface. We do see increases in ground vibration, which is something we refer to often as tremor,” she explained, stating scientists have seen an uptick in tremor for each fissure outbreak, and they are hoping they will “get smart enough to see those coming,” or at least be able to “use that as a proxy” for people being at the eruption sites.

     When asked about predicting the way this event will flow, Neal responded that each eruption has its own characteristics: “The message we’ve been trying to deliver is, even though the outbreak is focused in Leilani Estates, we know that magma has accumulated in the Rift Zone everywhere from just east of Leilani Estates, back up to Puʻu ʻŌʻō, so that whole Rift Zone is fair game. There’s nothing to say it can’t develop additional pressure, and push beyond Leilani Estates, to the east tip of the island.” She said the earthquakes are an indicator: if more earthquakes with epicenters start going east, that might indicate the flow pushing eastward.

This map shows recent changes to Kīlauea's East Rift Zone lava flow field and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō cone. The 61g
flow field, as of April 13, 2018, is shown in pink. The crack that formed on the west side of Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō
on April 30th, 2018, during or immediately after the crater floor collapse is shown as a solid red line.
Older Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō lava flows (1983–2016) are shown in gray. The yellow line is the trace of the active
lava tubes. The Kamokuna ocean entry is inactive. USGS map

     Neal said the populace should remain vigilant, paying close attention to Civil Defense messages, and think about earthquake and evacuation preparedness. Air quality issues – from the gasses coming out of the vents, to the increasing issues of burning asphalt and homes – pose another threat, she said. Neal said any visitors to the area should just “stay informed,” mentioning that her own sister was scheduled for a visit this week - Neal lives inside the park.

     If the current trend continues, said Neal, it “could be the beginning of a large change in this whole eruption. It may be that Halemaʻumaʻu drains out of site, and if the lava activity at the summit is pau, and things are now going to concentrate on the lower East Rift Zone. If the lower East Rift Zone peters out, and lava does not return to Puʻu ʻŌʻō, it’s very possible that lava could again repressurize the summit system, and the lake could rise again.”

     When asked, “Could things get worse?” Neal reiterated that her answers have a “high degree of uncertainty,” but that there were possible next phases “that are severe.” One would be that the eruption in Leilani “becomes more intense; spreads out along a larger section of the Rift Zone, and basically threatens more homes, more people, more infrastructure. The big earthquake of (Friday, May 4)… basically relieved stress along a certain part of Kīlauea’s south flank; but there is yet another patch that did not move. So, another, even larger, earthquake is possible.”

This thermal map shows the fissure system under Leilani Estates. Fissure 15, at the
northeast end of the fissure system, formed yesterday but was only briefly active.
Temperature in the thermal image is displayed as gray-scale values, with the brightest
pixels indicating the hottest areas. The thermal map was constructed by stitching
many overlapping oblique thermal images collected by a handheld thermal camera
during a helicopter overflight of the flow field. The base is a copyrighted color
satellite image (used with permission) provided by Digital Globe.

     Another possibility, said Neal, “that we’re just getting our heads around now, is that, if the lava lake drains so deeply that it gets down to the level of the water table - which is 500-600 meters below ground surface - we could have a scenario, such as occurred in 1924, where the lava lake drained deeply, there was a large intrusion of magma into the lower East Rift Zone; no eruption that we’re aware of, but we know a lot of melt went down the pipeline. This deepening of the magma column under the summit allowed a lot of groundwater to flush into the system. And when you mix water with 2,000 degree magma, you get explosions. So, in 1924, there was a period of time of explosive activity from the Halemaʻumaʻu region, which let out a lot of ash, a lot of big blocks.” She said the activity of that time was not outside the current flows areas, but it was “more severe hazard than what we’ve seen recently,” and lasted for a period of days to weeks.

     She said geophysicists have their eyes trained on the lake level, and they are monitoring the situation for signs, such as more earthquakes right in the region, and little ash columns and explosions from the crater. She expects that, should this scenario happen, there would be a period of days after the lake level reached the water table before activity would increase.

     HVO issues updates twice daily; due to activity, the time of each release varies. See the whole interview here.

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Tiare of the Christopher Wong Yuen family accepted the $1,000 Buy Local drawing award from Kaʻū Coffee Festival organizer Chris Manfredi 
at the tenth Kaʻū Coffee Festival's Hoʻolauleʻa last Saturday. Photo by Julia Neal

Kaʻū Coffee College was one of the best attended to date. Photo by Julia Neal

INDUSTRY EXPERTS GAVE PRESENTATIONS AT KA‘Ū COFFEE COLLEGE Sunday, May 6, at Pāhala Community Center. The educational day wrapped up the tenth annual Ka‘ū Coffee Festival and was one of the best attended to date.

     Getting the Most Out of Your Coffee Moisture Meter - a presentation by Fred Seeber of Shore Systems, a leading manufacturer of coffee moisture meters, explained how testers work and why they are important. Attendees were invited to bring their testers for Seeber to check them for calibration.

     Pruning Techniques to Maximize Yields - offered by University of Hawai‘i’s Andrea Kawabata, an assistant extension agent for coffee and orchard crops with UH's CTAHR cooperative extension service, and Tom Greenwell, president and long-time coffee farmer of Greenwell Farms - explained how proper pruning can promote tree health, which improves yield efficiency, profit margins, coffee quality, and sustainability for growers.

Fred Seeber talks about moisture meters. Photo by Julia Neal

     Quality Control in Roasting - a workshop by Brian Webb of Pacific Coffee Research of South Kona, a specialty coffee association training campus, coffee lab, roastery, and community education center - discussed the importance of profile roasting. He did an on-site, sample roasting, and then demonstrated data logging software to keep detailed records for future analysis.
     Royal Fuji demonstrated its small scale, professional roaster to the Ka‘ū Coffee College crowd. 

    See more on the Ka‘ū Coffee Festival on Facebook and @kaucoffeefest on Twitter, or call 808-929-9550.

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, MAY 11

Mother's Day Card - Arts & Crafts, Fri, May 11, 2-3pm, Kahuku Park, H.O.V.E. Ages 6 to 12. Register May 7-11. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

Pancake Breakfast & Raffle, Sat, May 12, 8-11am, Ocean View Community Center. To volunteer, call 939-7033, ovcahi.org

SATURDAY, MAY 12

CANCELED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Landscaping with Native Hawaiian Plants w/ Zach Mermel, Sat, May 12, 9-noon, Volcano Arts Center. Hands-on workshop. Class fee $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member. Register online volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222

CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: Mother's Day Saturday Walk in the Park, May 12, 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Join Friends of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Board Member, Linda Pratt, for this month's 4-mile hike exploring Kilauea Iki Crater. The walk is free for members; non-members are welcome to join the Friends group to attend. Registration required, www.fhvnp.org or call 985-7373.

Birth of Kahuku, Sat, May 12, 9:30-11:30am, Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Explore rich geologic history of Kahuku on this easy-to-moderate hike that traverses the vast 1868 lava flow, with different volcano features and formations. Learn about the Hawaiian hotspot and the creation of Kahuku. nps.gov/HAVO

Kāwā Volunteer Day, Sat, May 12, 9:30am, Kāwā. Sign up with James Akau, Nā Mamo o Kāwā, at namamookawa@gmail.com or 430-3058.

Maker Fair Spring Spree, Sat, May 12, 10-4pm, The Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Mother's Day weekend. All-handcrafted artisan shopping market from local makers. Free shopping tote to first 50 adult shoppers. Free make-and-take project booths. Keiki scavenger hunt. Free professional Mother's Day photo taken by Spark Productions. Details and artisan applications online, makerfair.org. Sara Krosch, contactmakerfair@gmail.com, 520-389-0620, facebook.com/MakerFair. Free to attend.

Zentangle: Fine Feather-Like Friends w/Lydia Meneses, Sat, May 12, 10-1pm, Volcano Art Center. Create tiles with feather-like forms. Open to all levels, no experience necessary. Bring snack to share. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Jazz in the Forest Concert, Sat, May 12, 4:30pm & 7pm, Volcano Art Center. Refreshments available for purchase. Django Hot Club of Volcano and French Cafe Jazz. Tickets available online, $18/VAC Member, $20/non-Member. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

OPENING EVENT AND GALLERY HOURS CANCELED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE - WILL BE RESCHEDULED: Exhibit: Fishponds of Hawai‘i by Carol Araki Wyban, Daily, May 12-Jun 24, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center Gallery, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Public opening reception on May 12, 5-7pm. Free; park entrance fees apply. volcanoartcenter.org

SUNDAY, MAY 13

‘Ōhi‘a Lehua, Sun, May 13 & 27, 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

CANCELLED IF PARK REMAINS CLOSED: Mother's Day Buffet, Sun, May 13, 5-8pm, Crater Rim Café, Kīlauea Military Camp, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Main entrees include Prime Rib, Lemon Butter Fish with Tropical Salsa and Vegetable Stir Fry with Tofu. $29/Adult, $14.50/Child (6-11 yrs). Open to authorized KMC patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply. Reservations required. 967-8356, kilaueamilitarycamp.com

TUESDAY, MAY 15

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Mtg., Tue, May 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

The Wonderful World of Wine & Watercolor, Tue, May 15, 4-7pm, Volcano Art Center. Artist Nancy DeLucrezia shows how to transfer a photo onto watercolor paper and introduces basic painting techniques. Enjoy sampling of several wines. $30/VAC Member, $35/non-Member, plus $17 supply fee/person.

Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, May 15, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16

CANCELLED IF PARK REMAINS CLOSED: Lei Hulu Demonstration, Wed, May 16, 10-noon, Kīlauea Visitor Center lānai, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Kilohana Domingo demonstrates his fine mastery of the intricate art of making feather lei. Free; park entrance fees apply. nps.gov/HAVO

Ocean View Community Association Board Meeting, Wed, May 16, noon-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

THURSDAY, MAY 17

VA Medical Services, Thu, May 3 & 17, 8:30-noon, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Thu, May 17, 9-1pm, Ocean View Community Center. ovcahi.org, 939-7033, ovcahawaii@gmail.com

Story Time with Auntie Linda from Tūtū & Me, Thu, May 17, 10:30-noon, Nā‘ālehu Public Library. 929-8571

Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thu, May 17, 6:30pm, United MethodistChurch in Nā‘ālehu. Pres. Berkley Yoshida, 747-0197

CANCELLED IF PARK REMAINS CLOSED: Fishponds Of Hawai‘i: Free Lecture and Slideshow by Carol Araki Wyban, Thu, May 17, 7-8pm, Volcano Art Center. Artist presenting exhibited at Volcano Art Center Gallery, May 12-June 24. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

NEW & UPCOMING

CANCELLED: Watch Hula Kahiko in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park this weekend.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: NĀ KUMU HULA PELEHONUAMEA HARMAN AND KEKOA HARMAN, with Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo, perform Hula Kahiko on Saturday, May 12, from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., at the kahua hula (hula platform) in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, announces Volcano Art Center.
     The students of Hālau I Ka Leo Ola O Nā Mamo come from the Hawaiian language immersion K-12 school, Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu. For the past seven years, their mission has been to perpetuate the Hawaiian language and culture through mele and hula. All classes are conducted in Hawaiian.
     Audience members are encouraged to bring sun/rain gear and sitting mats.

CANCELLED: Learn about the instruments, implements
and lei styles of hula. Event details at right.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org

     The free event is supported in part by a grant from the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development and the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority and individual funding from members of the Volcano Art Center’s ʻohana. Park entrance fees apply. For more, visit volcanoartcenter.org.

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CANCELLED DUE TO PARK CLOSURE: NĀ MEA HULA WITH CULTURAL SPECIALIST LOKE KAMANU AND HER ‘OHANA on the lānai of the Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park follows the Hula Kahiko performance, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, May 12. Presenting a display of all things hula, they will share a variety of instruments, implements and lei styles that play an integral role in the life of the hula practitioner. This memorable demonstration is hands-on and family friendly.
     Free; park entrance fees apply. For more, visit 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.

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

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. Early registration ends May 14; price increase for half marathon from $80 to $85, 10K from $40 to $45, 5K stays at $30. Registration increases again August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K $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.

One Community and One Parent Representative are sought by Nāʻālehu Elementary School Community Council. The community representative will serve a two-year term for school year 2018-2019 and 2019-2020. The parent representative will serve a one-year term for school year 2018-19. The parent rep cannot be a Nāʻālehu Elementary School employee. Last day to vote is tomorrow, May 11. Those interested, contact Leilani Rodrigues at 313-4020 or pcnc@naalehu.org, or name and number at the main office line, by calling 313-4000.

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