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Friday, June 29, 2018

Kaʻū News Briefs Friday, June 29, 2018

The County Marching Band is a regular at Nāʻālehu's Independence Day Parade, tomorrow at 11 a.m. on Hwy 11,
followed by OKK's Summer Fun Fest. Photo by Julia Neal
THE GENERAL EXCISE TAX WILL INCREASE TO 4.25 PERCENT ON JAN. 1. The County Council voted 7-2 today to add a surcharge of .25 percent onto the statewide 4 percent GE. According to the county administration, the extra tax money will fund an improved public transportation system in Hawaiʻi County, generating $20 million a year until it expires at the end of 2020.
     Council member Maile David, who had called for a public hearing on the matter, voted for the .25 percent tax hike, saying the county needs more income, given a $5 million budget shortfall. She said that she would have voted for a heftier surcharge - .5 percent - to help underserved communities. However, with the volcanic disaster, she said, the .25 percent would put less of a burden on people paying the GE taxes.
     Council member Dru Kanuha, who is running for the state Senate to represent West Kaʻū, voted against any tax hike, saying he worried about oversight, how the money would be managed.
   Former County Council member Brenda Ford, who is running for state Senate against Kanuha, sent a message to the council opposing the tax hike. “The entire Island community is under enough financial, physical, and emotional stress without the Council increasing that stress with additional taxes. As everyone acknowledges, the GET increase is a regressive tax hitting the poorest people the hardest. Have some mercy for our people.” Ford also said that raising taxes for transportation and using existing transportation budget for other purposes is “a shell game.” She said it could threaten the county's ability to secure money to buy new buses and bus parts. “Mass Transit has been a disaster for years and no Administration has fixed it - not even in good financial times!”
     Council member Jen Ruggles, who represents upper Puna, also opposed the hike. She said during council meetings that the extra taxation would hurt poor people who are already suffering from the volcanic disaster. She said the county's stabilization and disaster and emergency funds could cover the county's expenses for the ongoing disaster.
     Lower Puna council member Eileen O'Hara called for the hike, saying the county needs more money to help the disaster victims, as well as an improved bus system to help the needy.

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HAWAIʻI FARMERS IMPACTED BY ONGOING VOLCANIC ACTIVITY should have maximum assistance possible, said the Hawaiʻi Congressional Delegation in a letter today to Undersecretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services Bill Northey.
Papaya farmers are hard hit by the volcano disaster.
Photo from Makuʻu Farmers Market
     “Hawaiʻi is unlike any other state. The majority of our farms are small and diversified with specialty crops, and Hawaiʻi remains an underserved state for crop insurance. For farmers who have lost their homes, their crops, their land, and their farming infrastructure valued up to millions of dollars, assistance is absolutely critical if they are to remain in agriculture,” the Delegation wrote. “Hawaiʻi farmers have lost so much. If we want to ensure that they remain in agriculture and continue to provide locally grown food for our families, specialty crops that add millions to our economy, and increase Hawaiʻi’s food sustainability, we must provide them with every available assistance.”
     The letter spelled out the need: “The volcanic activity, which continues to this day, includes the lava flow, volcanic ash, acid rain, high levels of sulfur dioxide, and volcanic gas emissions (“vog”). The President has approved a Major Disaster Declaration for Hawaiʻi County (FEMA-4366-DR). Thus far, lava has covered 6,164 acres and destroyed over 650 homes in the Puna area of Hawaiʻi Island. Farms which grow or cultivate papayas, orchids, and cut flowers have been covered by lava or are no longer accessible. According to the 2012 Census of Agriculture, Hawaiʻi Island has 83 percent of Hawaiʻi’s papaya acreage and 78 percent of Hawaiʻi’s floriculture 
Kaʻū Coffee Farmers are determining any damage 
from ash falls and S02 during the volcanic activity. 
Photo from Hawaiʻi Coffee Association
square footage. Preliminary estimates suggest that up to 50 percent of Hawaiʻi’s cut flower industry is destroyed. Coffee and macadamia nuts are already showing the effects of acid rain, and losses could be extensive.
     “Farmers have not just lost their farms and homes; they have been displaced from their land as the volcanic activity has permanently altered the landscape. They will need to find new parcels and start over again. It will be well over a year before they are able to harvest their first crop. For producers of orchids, it could take three to four years to reestablish the crop to production levels achieved prior to the disaster.”
     The letter is signed by Sen. Mazie Hirono, Sen. Brian Schatz, Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

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WHAT CAUSES THE COLLAPSE/EXPLOSION EVENTS at Kīlauea’s summit? That’s the question answered in this week’s Volcano Watch hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch, a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey`s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and colleagues:
     At the summit of Kīlauea Volcano, Halemaʻumaʻu has changed dramatically since early May. As the crater walls and inner caldera slump inward, the depth of Halemaʻumaʻu has more than tripled, and the diameter has more than doubled. Before May, about 10 earthquakes per day were typical at the summit. As of late June, there are about 600 earthquakes located in the same region on a daily basis. Many of these earthquakes are strong enough to be felt, and some can be damaging. These earthquakes are understandably causing concern, especially in Volcano Village and surrounding subdivisions.
Halemaʻumaʻu crater from June 28, 4:55 a.m., six minutes 
after the most recent collapse/explosion. 
Light is from the moon. NPS photo
     What is causing these earthquakes? The short answer is that the rigid rock of the caldera floor is responding to the steady withdrawal of magma from a shallow reservoir beneath the summit. As magma drains into the East Rift Zone - traveling about 40 km (26 mi) underground, to erupt from fissures in the Leilani Estates subdivision - it slowly pulls away support of the rock above it. Small earthquakes occur as the crater floor sags. The collapse/explosion event is triggered when the caldera floor can no longer support its own weight and drops downward. Large collapses can produce an explosion and ash plume that rises above the crater.
     An example of this is the most recent event that occurred on June 28 at 4:49 a.m. An ash-poor plume rose about 300 m (1000 ft) above the ground and drifted to the southwest. The energy released by the event was equivalent to a M5.3 earthquake. Since May 16, scientists have observed intervals between collapse/explosion events as short at 8 hours and as long as 64 hours. The average is about 28 hours, which is why they seem to happen on an almost daily basis.
     Analyses of data from tiltmeters, GPS stations, seismometers, gas measurements, and satellite and visual observations are ongoing, and several hypotheses could explain the processes occurring at the summit. A leading concept is that incremental collapses beneath the caldera act as a piston dropping on top of a depressurized magmatic system (see figure, below). This collapse process culminates in a large earthquake that may be strong enough to be felt by residents in the area. It also can produce an explosion in which gas drives ash into the atmosphere. After a large collapse/explosion event, the stress on the faults around Halemaʻumaʻu is temporarily reduced, resulting in fewer earthquakes. Several hours later, as magma continues to drain out of the summit, stress increases on the faults around Halemaʻumaʻu and earthquake rates increase and grow to a constant level that continues for several hours before the next collapse/explosion event.
A generalized graphic of how a collapse/explosion event sequence can occur. The upper graphic represents a cross-section of the crater filled with rock rubble and the lower graphic is an example of a typical number of earthquakes observed during a particular phase of the collapse/explosion cycle. Initially, the piston is supported by the magma reservoir. It is stable and there is very low seismicity. Second, as magma drains, stress on the faults increases and there is an earthquake swarm on the caldera ring faults. Third, the piston collapses down from its own weight. A large collapse earthquake occurs and a plume can result. Graphic credit: Brian Shiro, seismologist at USGS HVO
     The collapse/explosion events generate plumes that have become progressively more ash-poor and now rise only a few thousand feet above the crater. This is in contrast to the eruptive sequence from May 16-26, when the vent within Halemaʻumaʻu crater was open, so ash plumes could rise into the air during each collapse/explosion event, like the event on May 17 that sent an ash plume to 30,000 feet. But by May 29, rock rubble from the crater rim and walls had filled the vent and a portion of the conduit that comprises the shallow magma reservoir may have partially collapsed, blocking the path for most of the ash to escape.
     Since June 21, nearby residents have reported feeling stronger, more intense shaking from the collapse/explosion events. Why do they feel stronger when the location and magnitude are about the same? It is possible that another partial collapse of the shallow magma reservoir occurred, also changing subsurface geometry. This changed the character of the seismic waves, which now have more high frequencies (shorter wavelengths) that people may feel more intensely. An analogy is a home theater or car stereo. Imagine the sound set at a constant volume - like the consistent earthquake magnitude - but then change the dials to increase the treble while lowering the bass slightly. The total energy is the same, but it's being expressed in different frequencies. This is why, over time, people may be reporting that they are feeling these events more widely and intensely.
Map of the lower East Rift Zone eruption, with active fissures red, 
inactive fissures in green, active flow area shaded in orange, 
active flow danger areas orange dots. 
Map from hawaiicountygis.maps.argis.com
     One of the most frequently asked questions is when will this end? The response is not so straightforward. The summit continues to subside as magma moves from the shallow reservoir beneath the Kīlauea summit into the lower East Rift Zone. As this process continues, Halemaʻumaʻu will continue to respond with collapse/explosion events. If strong shaking is felt, remember to drop, cover, and hold on until it stops. Be sure to quake-proof homes, schools, and businesses. Look here for tips: shakeout.org/hawaii/resources. Also, please help the USGS by reporting if you feel an earthquake at earthquake.usgs.gov/dyfi.

     Visit the HVO website, hvo.wr.usgs.gov for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea daily eruption updates and other volcano status reports, current volcano photos, recent earthquakes, and more; email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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AIR QUALITY IN KAʻŪ MAY IMPROVE for most of the weekend, as trade winds die down, according to the National Weather Service. Scattered showers should come in later in the day Sunday to help clear the air, and winds should pick up by Monday.
     At 6 p.m., the EPA site showedNā‘ālehu  as blue (good), and Pahala, Kona, and several more sensor sites as down; Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park central sensor was down. One sensor WSW of the summit showed as orange (caution). Orange was also the status of one operational sensor in lower Puna, directly south of Fissure 8. SO2 levels were last reported at noon, with all locations showing green (good). Air Quality Index was down at 6 p.m. 

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‘O KA‘Ū KĀKOU’S ANNUAL SUMMER FUN FEST at Nā‘ālehu Park will be held tomorrow, Saturday, June 30. The organization is also sponsoring the Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade, which begins 11 a.m. at Nā‘ālehu Elementary School and ends at the Nā‘ālehu Hongwanji Mission.
     At noon, ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou provides “water slides, and bounce castles, etc. plus hot dogs, watermelon, and shave ice for the keiki in the park. We will be having Senior Bingo and a nice lunch at the community center for our Seniors,” says Nadine Ebert of ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Attendees, food and activities at Summer Fun Fest is free of charge. The event is open to the public with no registration required.
     Those wanting to participate in the parade, volunteer, or donate are asked to contact Debra McIntosh at 929-9872. For more, visit okaukakou.org.

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Participate in a workshop creating Soft Pastel Life pieces
under the direction of Patti Pease Johnson.
Photo from volcanoartcenter.org
SOFT PASTEL LIFE WITH BIG ISLAND ARTIST/INSTRUCTOR PATTI PEASE JOHNSON workshop to take place tomorrow, Saturday, June 30, from 9 a.m. to noon, has been announced by Volcano Art Center at their Niʻaulani Campus location in Volcano Village. Johnson’s artwork can be found at in collections around the world and at galleries and shops throughout the state.
     The class description on volcanoartcenter.org says Johnson can help participants “gain confidence and techniques of this centuries-old medium.” Using her signature rotational proven method for success, she will supply materials along with instruction, guidance and inspiration for the process, as well as some handy tips for future projects, says the description.
     Students will first learn about types of pastels, different papers, fixing and mounting paper on backing, and will then use newsprint to keep the flow of arm movements loose. Participants form shapes next and then move into colors on pastel paper and finish by completing a 10 x12” project. The description totes that students will grow their knowledge of composition, color and correcting problems.
     The cost of the class is $45 per Volcano Art Center Member, and $50 per non-Member, plus a $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists are welcome. Register online at volcanoartcenter.org or call 967-8222.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment
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 
and facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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SATURDAY, JUNE 30
Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade, Sat, June 30, Hwy 11, Nā‘ālehu. Sign-ups open. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Soft Pastel Still Life w/Patti Pease Johnson, Sat, June 30, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. $45/VAC Member, $50/non-Member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Birds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: The Hawaiʻi Nei Invitational Exhibition, Daily, June 30-Aug 12, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. Special opening reception with 8 participating artists held Sat, June 30, 5-7pm, Free. volcanoartcenter.org

Grow Me the Money: Record-Keeping Principles and Best Practices for farmers and food producers, Sat, Jun 30, 3-6pm, Kaʻū District Gym. Free; registration required. Contact Megan Blazak, 887-6411, or koha.la/growmoney

Imua Puna, Sat, June 30, 3-10pm, 16-111 Opukahala St, Keaʻau. $5 suggested donation; evacuees enter and eat free. Food and drink to ourchase. Live entertainment. “Share your manaʻo at a multi-band music-dance concert to malama and kokua those displaced by Tutu Pele's journey to the ocean.” See facebook.com/kevin.carpenter84/video
/10212545972867861/

SUNDAY, JULY 1
Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sun, July 1, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u o Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, July 1, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, every Sat and Sun in July: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29; 12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities. Free. Check nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/cultural-programs.htm for details.

MONDAY, JULY 2
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Estuary Restoration Workday, Mon, July 2, contact in advance for meet-up time. Requires a short hike to access site. Pending volcanic activity/air quality. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co-op Group, Mon, July 2, 16, and 30, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, July 2, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JULY 3
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, July 3, 4-6pm, July 17, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, July 3, 6-8pm, Pāhala Community Center.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 4
4th of July Parade, Craft Fair, Wed, July 4, 9-1:30pm, Volcano Village. Free. Parade starts at Post Office, down Old Volcano Rd, ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd. Activities, food, and entertainment. Summer musical Oliver! cast, Da Boni and Doug Duo, Da Digital Menehunes, and Christy Lassiter will perform. Silent auction in main room. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. To be in parade, download entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors call Tara Holmes, 464-3625 (8-5pm) or email idoaloha@gmail.com. thecoopercenter.org

THURSDAY, JULY 5
Hula Voices w/Kumu Manaiakalani Kalua, Thu, July 5, 5-6pm, Volcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Talk story session moderated by Desiree Moana Cruz. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6-7pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6:30pm, Aspen Center. okaukakou.org

FRIDAY, JULY 6
Spaghetti Dinner, Fri, July 6, 5:30pm, St. Jude’s Episcopal Church, Ocean View. Single plate, $8, 2 for $15, family for $20. Tickets available at door. 939-7555, stjudeshawaii.org

Free Community Dance, Fri, July 6 and 13, 7-10pm, Cooper Center, Volcano Village. Minors allowed with supervision only. Alcohol-free event. Variety of music. Coffee, tea, water, and snacks provided. Free admission; donations appreciated. 967-7800, thecoopercenter.org

NEW and UPCOMING
THE COOPER CENTER ANNOUNCES A FREE COMMUNITY DANCE to take place on Monday, July 2, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at their location in Volcano Village on Wright Road.
     Many kinds of music will be featured at the event: rhythm & blues, classic rock and roll, 80’s dance hits, world beat, oldies and even some latin boogaloo. Coffee, tea, water, & snacks provided. The event is alcohol free, and requires minors be attended with supervision.
     Free Community Dances at Cooper Center are held on the second Friday of each month, with the following dance planned for Friday, July 13. For more, visit thecoopercenter.org.

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ST. JUDE’S EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN OCEAN VIEW HOSTS A SPAGHETTI DINNER on Friday, July 6, starting at 5:30 p.m. The dinner is open to all with tickets available at the door: $8 for one, $15 for two, and $20 per family. For more details, call 939-7555 or visit stjudeshawaii.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 Saturday, June 30. If interested, call Debra McIntosh at 929-9872.

4th of July Parade, Craft Fair, Wed, July 4, 9-1:30pm, Volcano Village. Free. Parade starts at Post Office, down Old Volcano Rd, ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd. Activities, food, and entertainment. Summer musical Oliver! cast, Da Boni and Doug Duo, Da Digital Menehunes, and Christy Lassiter will perform. Silent auction in main room. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. To be in parade, download entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors call Tara Holmes, 464-3625 (8-5pm) or email idoaloha@gmail.com. thecoopercenter.org

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona.
     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience.
     Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.
     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program as soon as possible, as spaces are limited; http://www.kupuhawaii.org/conservation/. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.

Disaster Recovery Center, jointly operated by Hawaiʻi County, the State of Hawaiʻi, and FEMA, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run from 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour. See the full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through Saturday, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park invites kamaʻaina and tourist alike to visit the Kahuku Unit. There are no entry fees, and all programs are free of charge. In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, at 12:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. June 30, : make a traditional Hawaiian spinning top with kukui nut, a favorite of nā keiki (children). July 1, ‘Ulana Niu; weave fun, whimsical items from coconut palm leaves.
     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
     Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Sunday, July 1, Pu‘u o Lokuana: This short 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone is ideal for families. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū.
     In the Visitor Contact Station, Coffee Talk, a monthly, casual get together, is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m. On June 29, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund will present Removing Trash, Restoring Habitat. On July 27, 
     See the Kahuku Unit Rangers, The Kahuku Cowgirls, in the Nā ͑ālehu 4th of July Parade Saturday, June 30, beginning at 10 a.m.
     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Park Rangers invite the public to downtown Hilo to learn about the volcanic activity, to get their NPS Passport Book stamped, and to experience the Hawaiian cultural connection to volcanoes. Rangers are providing programs at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center at 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Tuesday through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
     Two Park Rangers are stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

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.

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.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

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Kaʻū News Briefs Thursday, June 28, 2018

Volcano-impacted farms, like those seen above, would receive more assistance under the U.S. Senate version
 of the Farm Bill, which goes to conference committee. See story below. Photo from Big Island Video News
CHANGE WAS THE WORD on the edge of Kīlauea Caldera on Wednesday, when Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory held a press conference looking over Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, the former home of the famous lava lake.
     Under a clear blue sky, above a gaping gray crater of ash and rock, HVO's Chief Scientist Tina Neal said it’s “Bittersweet to be here today.” She talked about the park closure around the crater, and HVO pulling staff and equipment out of its headquarters on the edge of the caldera. She referred to Kīlauea lava destroying homes and displacing residents. “With the profound impacts to the people going on in lower Puna and in Volcano and the rest of the island, it’s just time to think about how somber that component of what’s going on, is now.”
     Neal said, “Change is really the fundamental process going on right now. Change is what volcanoes do. Kīlauea Volcano has been in a constant state of change, and indeed what we’re seeing today has happened before. It’s unprecedented in our modern observational period,” but again, she proclaimed, “Change is what volcanoes do.”
     Neal said that “despite there being this profound sense of loss” with partial closure of the park and destruction in lower Puna, “it’s also, for our scientists, a very inspirational time because of the change. And if you think back to the founding of HVO more than a hundred years ago, it was put here because of the rapid pace of change at Kīlauea and how active Kīlauea Volcano was.”
     HVO’s founder, Dr. Thomas Jaggar, “recognized that this was a perfect place to establish a laboratory to study volcanic processes, so that we would better understand how they can potentially impact society and give us the ability to warn people ahead of time and allow us to live safely with volcanoes.” She said that HVO scientists, “even though we are dealing with the disruption, are really engaged scientifically, trying to figure out what is happening, to give the best guidance to the National Park and other emergency authorities – and, indeed, the public - so they can make good decisions about their own safety.”
HVO Chief Scientist Tina Neal
Photo from Big Island Video News
     Neal pointed to the unmanned aerial vehicles team that has been working at Halemaʻumaʻu for more than a month to obtain UAV footage of the very hazardous area. She said HVO is bringing new tools to the table, and that “Dr. Jaggar would be very approving of it - to allow us to gain the knowledge to better understand what’s going on.”
     Kyle Anderson, a research geophysicist with the U.S. Geological Survey, explained that magma is rising up beneath the summit of Kīlauea from its supply region, passing through the summit storage reservoir system, and then migrating down the rift zone where it’s either stored or erupted. “Because the rate of magma exiting the summit storage system - the summit reservoir - is so much greater than the rate at which magma is supplied to that reservoir - the summit magma reservoir is deflating - you can think of that a bit like air being let out of a balloon. That’s causing subsidence, cracking, and deformation across a broad and widening region of Kīlauea Caldera,” he said.
     Anderson said that “the rates of subsidence in some places, particularly close to Halemaʻumaʻu Crater, are very large, as much as 30 feet or more per day.” The deformation, the slumping, he said, is “happening episodically,” over recent weeks about once a day. He noted that earlier in the eruption, this slumping gave rise to vigorous ash plumes and the ejection of ballistic fragments to the region surrounding the crater. “More recently, that has not been true. Very little ash is being emitted currently, but these slumping events are producing large earthquakes which are felt very strongly in the Kīlauea Summit region. Magma is exiting the summit storage system rapidly. Rock, which composes the floor of the caldera, is slumping downwards and inward to replace magma, which is being evacuated towards the rift zone,” Anderson said. He noted that the bottom of the crater is about 1,000 feet below the old caldera floor.
Deep cracks have popped up all around the edges of Kīlauea
 Caldera, as Halemaʻuma​ʻu crater subsides after the
 loss of its lava lake. Photo from Big Island Video News


     Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory has reported that the SO2 readings are at least half of what they were during the days of the Halemaʻumaʻu lava lake, giving hope that Kaʻū air may soon be
cleaner than it's been in many years.

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VOLCANO-IMPACTED FARMERS would be able to retroactively apply for coverage under the Non-insured Crop Assistance Program in the bipartisan 2018 U.S. Senate Farm Bill. Sen. Mazie Hirono pushed for the measure for the Farm Bill, which sets policy and funding levels for agriculture and nutrition programs through 2023. It was approved on Wednesday by the Senate with a 86-11 vote. The bill must now move to a conference committee, to reconcile differences with the House Farm Bill passed last week.
     “The ongoing volcanic activity on Hawaiʻi Island has had a devastating impact on local agricultural producers. The provision I successfully included in this year’s farm bill will provide much needed relief to our agricultural community,” said Hirono. “This Senate Farm Bill supports many programs that are critical to Hawaiʻi farmers and growers.”
     The NAP Program provides assistance to producers of non-insurable crops – including papaya, leafy greens, floriculture, and aquaculture – in the event that natural disasters destroy crops, reduce yields, or prevent planting.
     Those affected by the volcanic activity will be able to access up to $125,000 in assistance even if they had not previously signed up for NAP coverage for the 2018 crop year. The underlying bill also establishes a payment limit of $125,000 for catastrophic coverage and $300,000 for additional coverage within NAP for future policies.
Scales of the Macadamia Felted coccid, a disease to be studied with
 funding in the 2018 Farm Bill. Photo from University of Hawaiʻi 
     The Farm Bill also includes the Macadamia Tree Health Initiative, a bill introduced earlier this Congress by Hirono, which makes researching and developing management strategies to combat the macadamia felted coccid, an invasive pest threatening Hawaiʻi’s macadamia nut industry, a high priority at the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
     Hirono also teamed up with Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) to include a floor amendment to provide small grants for individuals, food banks, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and other nonprofit organizations to promote food security and the availability of fresh food for local communities throughout Hawaiʻi.

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Dina Shisler, surrounded by toys and emergency supplies, 
supplied to every Nāʻālehu school student a flashlight, whistle, 
and survival blanket. Photo from Dina Shisler
EVERY STUDENT OF NĀʻĀLAHU SCHOOL RECEIVED AN EMERGENCY TOGO BAG, made by a group of women quilters. On May 30, volunteer Dina Shisler, of Discovery Harbour, delivered them. “Each bag contained some fun things - but most importantly each had a whistle, flashlight, and a survival blanket,” she said. The students welcomed her warmly. “If hugs were money, I would have been a millionaire at the end of the day,” she said, promising to provide emergency togos for additional students when they start school.
     She thanked Kalae Quilters as well as County Council member Maile David, who helped pay for supplies; ʻO Kaʻū Kākou; Discount Fabric Warehouse’s Bill Miller; J. Hara in Kurtistown; police officers officers Dane Shybiuyo and Clayton Tayaman; Carol and Earl Spradling; and Ed and Marvel Rau. Shisler said she would be happy to help other volunteer groups to produce the emergency bags for keiki in their own communities.

See public Ka‘ū events, meetings, entertainment
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 
and facebook.com/kaucalendar.
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FRIDAY, JUNE 29

Coffee Talk, Fri, Jun 29, 9:30-11amKahuku Park, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Join park rangers in informal conversation on a variety of topics. Ka‘ū coffee, tea, and pastries available for purchase. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Mystery Bag Game, Fri, Jun 29, 2-3pmKahuku Park, H.O.V.E. For ages 6-12 years. Register Jun 25-29. Teresa Anderson, 929-9113, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

SATURDAY, JUNE 30
Nā‘ālehu Independence Day Parade, Sat, Jun 30, Hwy 11, Nā‘ālehu. Sign-ups open. Call Debra McIntosh, 929-9872

Birds of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park: The Hawaiʻi Nei Invitational Exhibition, Daily, Jun 30-Aug 12, 9-5pm, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. Special opening reception with 8 participating artists held Sat, Jun 30, 5-7pm, Free. volcanoartcenter.org

Soft Pastel Still Life w/Patti Pease Johnson, Sat, Jun 30, 9-noon, Volcano Art Center's Niʻaulani Campus, Hale Hoʻomana at 19-4074 Old Volcano Road. $45/VAC Member, $50/non-Member, plus $10 supply fee. Beginner and intermediate artists welcome. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Grow Me the Money: Record-Keeping Principles and Best Practices for farmers and food producers, Sat, Jun 30, 3-6pm, Kaʻū District Gym. Free; registration required. Contact Megan Blazak, 887-6411, or koha.la/growmoney

Imua Puna, Sat, June 30, 3-10pm16-111 Opukahala St, Keaʻau. $5 suggested donation; evacuees enter and eat free. Food and drink to ourchase. Live entertainment. “Share your manaʻo at a multi-band music-dance concert to malama and kokua those displaced by Tutu Pele's journey to the ocean.” See facebook.com/kevin.carpenter84/videos/10212545972867861/

SUNDAY, JULY 1
Pu‘u o Lokuana, Sun, July 1, 9:30 - 11 a.m., Kahuku Unit of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Short, moderately difficult, 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone, Pu‘u o Lokuana. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Kaʻū. Free. nps.gov/HAVO

Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sun, July 1, noon-2pm, Manukā State Park. Anyone interested in learning about ham radio is welcome to attend. Sponsored by South Point Amateur Radio Club and Amateur Radio Emergency Service. View sites.google.com/site/southpointarc or sites.google.com/view/southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058

‘Ike Hana No‘eau, Experience the Skillful Work, every Sat and Sun in July: 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, and 29; 12:30pm, Kahuku Unit of Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Hawaiian cultural demonstrations and hands-on activities. Free. Check nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/cultural-programs.htm for details.

MONDAY, JULY 2
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Estuary Restoration Workday, Mon, July 2, contact in advance for meet up time. Requires a short hike to access site. Pending volcanic activity/air quality. Space limited. Free; donations appreciated. kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com, wildhawaii.org

Ka‘ū Homeschool Co–op Group, Mon, July 2, 16, and 30, 1pm, Ocean View Community Center. A parent-led homeschool activity/social group building community in Ka‘ū. Laura Roberts, 406-249-3351

Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, Mon, July 2, 4-6pm, Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

TUESDAY, JULY 3
Discovery Harbour Volunteer Fire Dept. Meeting, Tue, July 3, 4-6pm, July 17, 4:30-6:30pm, Discovery Harbour Community Hall. 929-9576, discoveryharbour.net

Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Meeting, Tue, July 3, 6-8pmhala Community Center.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 4
4th of July Parade, Craft Fair, Wed, July 4, 9-1:30pmVolcano Village. Free. Parade starts at Post Office, down Old Volcano Rd, ends at Cooper Center on Wright Rd. Activities, food, and entertainment. Summer musical Oliver! cast, Da Boni and Doug Duo, Da Digital Menehunes, and Christy Lassiter will perform. Silent auction in main room. Leashed dogs allowed. Provided by Cooper Center Council, Volcano Community Association, and Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. To be in parade, download entry form at volcanocommunity.org and email to vcainfo@yahoo.com. Vendors call Tara Holmes, 464-3625 (8-5pm) or email idoaloha@gmail.com. thecoopercenter.org

4th of July Picnic, Wed, July 4, 2pm, Discovery Harbour Community Center. $6, bring your own beverage. Register by Friday, June 29, by calling Discovery Harbour on Friday, June 29, between 8am and noon.

THURSDAY, JULY 5
Hula Voices w/Kumu Manaiakalani Kalua, Thu, July 5, 5-6pmVolcano Art Center’s Ni‘aulani Campus, Volcano Village. Talk story session moderated by Desiree Moana Cruz. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org

Ocean View Neighborhood Watch Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6-7pmOcean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

‘O Ka‘ū Kākou Meeting, Thu, July 5, 6:30pmAspen Center. okaukakou.org

NEW and UPCOMING
Paniolo wrangles a steer at Nāʻālehu Fourth of July Rodeo.
Photo by Julia Neal
Bull riding is a highlight of the annual Fourth of July Rodeo.
Photo by Julia Neal
Fourth of July Rodeo at Nāʻālehu Rodeo Grounds will be held Saturday, July 7 and Sunday, July 8. Sponsored by Kaʻū Roping & Riding Association, the two days of action will include competition for keiki, wahine and kane. Slack Roping begins Saturday at 8 a.m. Cowboy Church is on Sunday at 10 a.m. Rodeo starts at 12 p.m. both days, with Al Cabral calling the show.
     Events include Open Team Roping, Kane/Wahine Dally Team Roping, Team 90s, Double Mugging, Kane/Wahine Ribbon Mugging, Wahine Mugging, Tie Down Roping, Wahine Break Away, Po‘o Wai U, and Bull Riding.
     Dummy Roping, Goat Undecorating, Calf Riding, and Youth Barrel Racing events are set for youngsters. Food, crafts, and t-shirt booths will be on hand.


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ONGOING
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program will take sign-ups in Kaʻū, through Friday, June 29.
     In Nā’ālehu, it will take place at the Hawai‘i County Economic Opportunity Council office, back of Senior Center, Wed-Fri, 8-1pm, 929-9263.
     In Ocean View, it will take place at Ocean View Community Center, Mon and Tue, 8-4:30pm.
     In Pāhala, it will take place at the Edmund Olson Trust Office, Tue and Wed, 8:30-12:30pm. See more for eligibility requirements and application.

Paid Intern sought by The Nature Conservancy, to work from October 2018 through August 2019 with their Hawai‘i Island Terrestrial Program, which has native forest preserves located in Ka‘ū and South Kona.
     The internship is offered through Kupu Hawai‘i. Those interested are asked to fill out an online application at kupuhawaii.org under Conservation Leaders Program by Saturday, June 30; kupuhawaii.org/conservation. For more, call The Nature Conservancy at 443-5401 or call Kupu Hawai‘i at 808-735-1221.
     Benefits offered include: a $1,600 monthly living allowance (before taxes); a $5,920 education award towards higher education; health care and childcare benefits (if eligible); and receive an entry-level conservation career experience.

   Applicants must be at least 17 years old by the program start date, October 2018, and possess or be working towards a high school diploma or equivalent. Applications must also have their own housing and transportation, a drivers license, and be able to pass a criminal history check.

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

Disaster Recovery Center, jointly operated by Hawaiʻi County, the State of Hawaiʻi, and FEMA, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. at Keaʻau High School Gym. Buses run from 7:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. to and from Keaʻau Armory every 20 minutes and Pāhoa Community Center Shelter every hour. See the full bus schedule on the Civil Defense Website at HawaiiCounty.gov/Active-Alerts. For a list of the information applicants need to bring to the DRC, or to register online, go to DisasterAssistance.gov

Libraries Rock Summer Reading Program: Hawai‘i State Public Library System, through Saturday, July 14, statewide and online. Register and log reading at librarieshawaii.beanstack.org or at a local library. Free. Reading rewards, activities, and programs for children, teens, and adults. 2018 participants have a chance to win a Roundtrip for four to anywhere Alaska Airlines flies.

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park invites kamaʻaina and tourist alike to visit the Kahuku Unit. There are no entry fees, and all programs are free of charge. In addition to regularly scheduled Guided Hikes and the monthly Coffee Talk, Kahuku Unit has added daily Ranger Talks, and cultural demonstrations and activities on weekends.
     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ike Hana Noe ʻAu, Cultural Demonstrations and Activities, at 12:30 p.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July, made possible by Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association. June 30, : make a traditional Hawaiian spinning top with kukui nut, a favorite of nā keiki (children). July 1, ‘Ulana Niu; weave fun, whimsical items from coconut palm leaves.
     Visitor Contact Station hosts Ranger Talks on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday at 10:30 a.m.
     Guided Hikes begin at 9:30 a.m. every Saturday and Sunday in June and July. Meet the ranger at the welcome tent. Sunday, July 1, Pu‘u o Lokuana: This short 0.4-mile hike to the top of the grassy cinder cone is ideal for families. Learn about the formation and various uses of this hill over time and enjoy a breathtaking view of lower Ka‘ū.
     In the Visitor Contact Station, Coffee Talk, a monthly, casual get together, is held the last Friday of the month, 9:30-11 a.m. On June 29, Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund will present Removing Trash, Restoring Habitat. On July 27, 
     See the Kahuku Unit Rangers, The Kahuku Cowgirls, in the Nā ͑ālehu 4th of July Parade Saturday, June 30, beginning at 10 a.m.
     Kahuku events are posted to the park website, nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/kahuku-hikes.htm.

Park Rangers invite the public to downtown Hilo to learn about the volcanic activity, to get their NPS Passport Book stamped, and to experience the Hawaiian cultural connection to volcanoes. Rangers are providing programs at the Mokupāpapa Discovery Center at 76 Kamehameha Avenue, Tuesday through Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.
     Two Park Rangers are stationed at the Grand Naniloa Hotel in downtown Hilo, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., every Sunday and Monday, in the Willie K Crown Room - as long as nothing else is scheduled in the space. The rangers will be doing daily talks at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. about the eruption. They will show the park film that is normally available to visitors to see at the Kilauea Visitor’s Center at the Summit, Born of Fire, Born in the Sea, every half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m.

Kona Vet Center visits to Ocean View Community Center are Suspended until further notice. Veterans may call 329-0574 for VA benefit information. ovcahi.org

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.

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.

Volcano Forest Runs Registration Open through Friday, August 17, at 6 p.m. Half marathon $85, 10K $45, 5K $30. Registration increases August 1: half marathon to $95, 10K to $55, and 5K to $35. Race is run from Cooper Center on Wright Road in Volcano Village on Saturday, August 18.

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