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| Streams and gulches overflowed in Wood Valley this morning. Photo by Julia Neal |
TROPICAL STORM ERICK POURED THROUGH Kaʻū today, dumping more than three inches of rain above Pāhala and overflowing streams and gulches in Wood Valley. Kaʻū Farm Bureau President Phil Becker said Erick "made a mess and made it hard to get anything done." Only minor damage to waterways was reported. Wood Valley Road was flooded at the ford for several hours this morning.
By late afternoon, the Flash Flood Watch and Advisory were canceled. High Surf Warning for south facing shores are cancelled, and Whittington and Punaluʻu Beach Parks, and South Point Road, reopened. Tropical Storm Erick, at 5 p.m., was more than 250 miles west southwest of South Point, continuing to weaken. It is expected to have no more effect on Hawaiʻi Island after tonight.
Camping permits and pavilion reservations, put on hold at Punaluʻu and Whittington during Erick's approach, will not be honored until Monday; by then, Tropical Storm Flossie could be in the area to extend the closure. At 5 p.m., Flossie was about 1,000 miles from South Point, with 60 mph winds, moving at 17 mph. She is expected to turn north, away from Kaʻū, before arriving at Hawaiʻi Island late on Sunday. High winds are expected, starting
A High Wind
Advisory is in effect for the entire island. The High Surf warning for east facing
shores of Hawaiʻi Island is in effect through this evening.
Officials and
forecasters remind the public that tropical storms can cause wind, rain, and
surf damage, and to be prepared with at least 14 days of food, water, and other
necessary supplies.
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| Flowing water from Tropical Storm Erick blocks Wood Valley Road for a father and daughter who look at the turbulence this morning. Photo by Julia Neal |
UH BOARD OF REGENTS WILL STUDY MAUNAKEA MANAGEMENT with a
task force. It will be tasked with assessing University of Hawaiʻi's management of the mauna, which has
gained international attention with the Kiaʻi, Protectors of Maunakea, making a
stand to block the Thirty Meter Telescope project.
The "permitted
interaction group" meetings won't be public, and there will be no record
of what is discussed. The six members will be selected in a public meeting, report
to the full board in a public meeting, and any action will be decided in a
public meeting separate from the first and second. There is no deadline given for
this reporting.
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| Erick passes over Kaʻū, heading west, while Flossie approaches. Image from nhc.noaa.gov |
UH Prof. Kaleikoa
Kaeo testified that UH Pres. David Lassner should resign over the arrest of kūpuna and
others while protesting, reported HNN.
"I challenge Mr. Lassner to a public debate on whether or not this
institution is a system of racism."
HNN reported Lassner saying that he has no plans
to resign. "I know there are a lot of people, friends disappointed in me
from their perspective. They wish I had gone another way. I also have many
friends and community members who are incredibly supportive."
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| Hawaiʻi Island is out of danger from Erick, but Flossie threatens with more rain, wind, and high surf. Image from nhc.noaa.gov |
LEGISLATION PROMOTING NATIVE PLANT USE, RESEARCH, AND
PROTECTION was introduced to the U.S. Senate on Wednesday by Sen. Mazie Hirono. The Botanical
Sciences and Native Plant Materials Research, Restoration, and Promotion Act
would "encourage federal land management agencies to hire botanists; establish
a collaborative grant program to support efforts to keep rare plant species
from becoming endangered and help endangered plant species recover; and
proactively encourage the use of native plants in projects on federal land when
feasible."
Said Hirono,
"Hawaiʻi is home to over one thousand native plant species, and nearly 90
percent of those are found nowhere else in the world. Without these plants, our
communities and our ecosystems face serious economic and ecological
consequences. This bill would provide federal, state, and local land management
entities the tools and resources they need to further protect native plant
species and ensure the wellbeing of these plants for generations to come."
Dustin Wolkis,
Seed Bank and Laboratory Manager, Department of Science and Conservation,
Debbie
Edwards, President of The Garden Club of America, said, "In today's world,
the need for using native plants to promote vibrant ecosystems which are
drought resistant, wild fire resistant, and resilient has never been greater. Measures
such as Senator Hirono's legislation will help move us in this direction and
promote intelligent, cost-effective land management practices."
The full text of
the bill is available here. A one page summary and section-by-section breakdown
of the bill is available here and here.
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| Telehealth is expanding across Hawaiʻi Island. Photo from Big Island Video News |
Endocrinology addresses the many hormone systems in the body, including those that are involve with reproduction, the automatic nervous system, how insulin is regulated, and more.
The schedule has the potential for expansion. Access to endocrinology is the latest in telehealth services that include telepsychiatry – addressing behavioral health – and telenephrology – addressing the health of kidneys.
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PLAY PICKLEBALL at Kīlauea Military Camp's new pickleball courts in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Aug. 24 and 25, starting at
Play pickleball on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Cooper Center 9 a.m. to noon at KMC (4 courts).
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WATER OR NO WATER ON HALEMAʻUMAʻUMA`U'S FLOOR? That is the question in this
week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian
Volcano Observatory scientist emeritus Don Swanson:
If there is
water, the next question is, "where is it coming from?" The floor of
Halema‘uma‘u is now about 68 m (223 ft) below the level of the water table as
measured in a deep well about 1 km (0.6 mi) farther south.
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Aerial view of Halema'uma'u at the summit of
The pond is at about 525 m (about 1722 ft)
elevation. USGS photo by S. Conway
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USGS HVO
scientists usually base their research on observations, either visual or
instrumental. Interpretations come from these observations, so they must be as
good as possible. Incorrect observations can, and have, led to erroneous
interpretations.
But what if
an observation is tempting but unverified? In that case, it's time to hold the
interpretations until the observation can be shown to be correct or incorrect.
On July 25, 2019 , I was enjoying my
birthday when a friend sent an e-mail asking if HVO knew about water on the
floor of Halema‘uma‘u. Talk about a surprise! The friend's friend, a helicopter
pilot, later sent a photo that showed a possible green pond on the crater floor
and provided an oral account of it as being "about as large as a pickup
truck."
The next
day, observers in the helicopter, which was collecting lidar data of Kīlauea
Volcano's caldera, provided another photo. They said the smooth green patch
looked like water, but they had seen no reflection from its surface.
Then, on
July 30, a passenger in a different helicopter took a photo from a high
altitude that showed a similar feature. This photo was posted on social media
with a brief commentary.
So, is water
at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u – or not? Everyone agreed that the photos could
well show water, but could the green patch be something else?
Another
possibility is that the smooth, green color comes from a flat surface underlain
by ash or rock-fall dust blown from the wall of Halema‘uma‘u and trapped in the
bottom of the crater. The green color could result from sulfur minerals or
algae. A weak point of this idea is that large rocks adjacent to the supposed
pond are not coated with ash, much less green ash.
HVO received
several inquiries about the photographs and the possibility that they show
water in the crater. Water was on everyone's mind, and rightly so. But
Halema‘uma‘u has never had a pond of water since written observations began, so
the presence of a pond would be unusual.
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Telephoto views of water in the bottom of Halema'uma'u taken
during a helicopter lidar survey on July 25 (left), when the pond was
first
observed, and a USGS overflight on Aug. 1(right). The pond grew
slightly in size and depth between the two dates; an "x" marks the
same
rock in both photos for comparison. Left photo courtesy of Ron
Chapelle, Quantum Spatial. USGS photo (right) by
|
While
tempting, speculation was not in order. No one had seen a reflection or ripples
on the purported pond of water, and all discussion was based on the suggestive,
but non-definitive, photos. So, before HVO could begin assessing how water got
there, we had to first be confident that water IS there.
With the "water
or no water" question in mind, HVO scientists flew over the summit of Kīlauea
on the morning of August 1.
We can now
confirm the presence of water at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u. HVO observers on
the helicopter overflight saw reflections from the green pond – the 'smoking
gun' for water. The pond has clearly enlarged since the earliest photos on July
25.
With the
presence of water confirmed, HVO scientists can now start thinking about the
implications of water in the crater, relieved of the burden of having to prove
its existence. Until we better understand where the water is coming from, it's
impossible to understand its significance.
However, at
this time, there is no reason to think hazards at the summit have increased or
decreased because of the presence of water.
HVO is now
exploring options for additional observations. The inaccessible location of the
water – deep within Halema‘uma‘u – makes it impossible to see the pond from
most parts of the crater rim, although one potential viewpoint will be examined
in the coming days (weather permitting). If that proves out, a webcam can be
installed with National Park Service permission to monitor the new pond. If
not, remote sensing could be another option for continued observations.
HVO
scientists will closely monitor the water in Halema‘uma‘u, and as more
information about the pond becomes available, we will keep readers informed
through future Volcano Watch articles and posts to our website. Please
stay tuned.
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See public Kaʻū events, meetings, entertainment.
Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is free to 5,500 mailboxes
throughout Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano, and free on
stands throughout the district. Read online at kaucalendar.com
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See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates; Bowling TBA.
Football, Division II:
Sat., Aug. 24, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kamehameha
Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Tue., Aug. 20, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Hilo
Fri., Aug. 23, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts St. Joseph
Wed., Aug. 28, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Kohala
Cross Country:
Mon., Aug. 5, 2:30 to 4 p.m., first day practice
Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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Sat., Aug. 31, 10 a.m., @Christian Liberty
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UPCOMING
SATURDAY, AUG. 3
Edible Landscaping for Backyards and Beyond with Zach Mermel of Ola Design Group, Saturday, Aug. 3, 9a.m.-2:30p.m. , Volcano Art Center
Keiki Science Class, Saturday, Aug. 3 – 1st Saturday, monthly – 11a.m. -noon , Ace Hardware Stores islandwide; Nā‘ālehu, 929-9030 and Ocean View, 929-7315. Free. acehardware.com
Flameworking - An Introductory Class with Nash Adams-Pruitt, Saturday, Aug. 3, and Sunday, Aug. 4, 2-4:30p.m., Volcano Art Center. $155/VAC member, $160/non-member, plus $40 supply fee. Class size limited; advanced registration required. 967-8222, volcanoartcenter.org
SUNDAY, AUG. 4
Ham Radio Potluck Picnic, Sunday, Aug. 4 – 1st Sunday, monthly – noon-2p.m.,
sites.google.com/viewith southhawaiiares/home. Rick Ward, 938-3058
MONDAY, AUG. 5
Tūtū & Me Traveling Preschool Accepting Enrollment Applications - orientation for enrolled families begins Aug. 5 and 6, with programs in Nā‘ālehu/Wai‘ōhinu at Kauaha‘ao Church on Mondays and Wednesdays, 8:45-10:45a.m., and Pāhala Community Center on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:30-10:30a.m. Limited space. 939-8573, pidfoundation.org
Ocean View Volunteer Fire Department Mtg., Monday, Aug. 5 and Sept. 2, 4-6p.m., Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org
TUESDAY, AUG. 6
Hawai‘i County Council Mtgs., Tuesday, Aug. 6 (Committees), Wednesday, Aug. 7 (Council), Hilo . Ka‘ū residents can participate via videoconferencing at Nā‘ālehu State Office Building
Ka‘ū Coffee Growers Mtg., Tuesday, Aug. 6, 6-8p.m. , Pāhala Community Center
Paniolo: Hawaiian Cowboys, Aft
Registration Open: Instructional Volleyball (8+, 10+, 12+, 14+), Aug. 7-15, Ka‘ū District Gym. Program takes place Tuesdays and Thursdays, Aug. 20-Oct. 17, 6-7:30p.m. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
Hula Voices with Kumu Hula Kimo Awai, Wednesday, Aug. 7 – 1st Wednesday, monthly – 5:30-7p.m. , Volcano Art Center Gallery. Desiree Moana Cruz moderates the talk story session. Free. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org
Nā‘ālehu Elementary School 9a.m. -5p.m, Ocean View Community Center
THURSDAY, AUG. 8
Hawaiian Civic Club of Ka‘ū, Thursday, Aug. 8, 6:30p.m. , United Methodist Church
Registration Open: Watercolor Art, Thursday, Aug. 8-14, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8 takes place Wednesday, Aug. 14, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation
FRIDAY, AUG. 9
Hawai‘i Disability Legal Services, Friday, Aug. 9, 9a.m. -noon , Ocean View Community Center
Private Excursion: Trail Less Traveled, Friday, Aug. 9, 10a.m. -noon , Devastation Trail Parking Lot, HVNP. Moderate 2 mile hike. $40/person. Park entrance fees may apply. Organized by Friends of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park
Community Dance, Friday, Aug. 9, 7-10p.m. , Cooper Center Volcano Village
Talk Action, Take Action: surveys available through Aug. 4, recovery.hawaiicounty.gov/connect/impact-status-survey-suite. The surveys focus on different areas of recovery after the 2018 Kīlauea eruption: households, businesses, and community.
Volcano Winery's Annual Fundraising Harvest Festival Tickets are on sale at volcanowinery.com or (808) 967-7772. Proceeds benefit
6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Registration, webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through mac nut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū starting at 7 a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Prices increase after July 9. okaukakou.org, kaucoffeemill.com
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