Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Kaʻū News Briefs, Wednesday, September 18, 2019

Kaʻū fourth graders learn about Halemaʻumaʻu and Kīlauea, in 2016. The curriculum for teaching about Kīlauea
has been updated to reflect last year's eruption. See story, below. Photo by Janice Wei/NPS
MOST AT RISK FROM VOLCANIC HAZARDS ON THE ISLAND are people in the census block mauka of Hwy 11, from Manuka through Ocean View, Waiʻōhinu and Nāʻālehu to the ocean at Honuʻapo, and Kāwā to Punaluʻu. This is the analysis of the Kīlauea Eruption Risk Assessment, released online today by the County of Hawaiʻi. The 36-page study ranks  a large swath of Kaʻū as number one risky area. Risk areas 2 through 7 are in Puna, in and around the lava disaster of 2018.
     All areas studied are in or around lava zones 1 and 2 on Kīlauea and/or Mauna Loa volcanoes.
     The Risk Assessment deals with more that the likelihood of lava burying a community. It deals with such measures as access to transportation, which could be cut off by volcanic activity; socioeconomic status, which could make it more difficult to recover from volcanic events; and household composition - services could be cut off to those in need.
     Risk factors were combined to rank communities defined by U.S. Census blocks and tracts. The top three multi-hazard risk tracts were identified as Census Tract 212.02: Kaʻū, most vulnerable; Census Tract 211.01: Kalapana-Kapoho, second most vulnerable; and Census Tract 211.06: Pāhoa-Hawaiian Beaches/Shores, third most vulnerable.
     Kīlauea Eruption Risk Assessment is one of several analyses being considered in development of the county's forthcoming Kīlauea Recovery Strategic Plan, anticipated by end of year. The plan will include strategies to "mitigate hazard risk, reduce vulnerabilities, build complete communities, provide affordable housing, advance economic recovery, and address community needs."
     A statement from the County says that the Kīlauea Eruption Risk Assessment is intended to give county government and residents "a clearer understanding of risks relative to volcanic hazards, to better inform decision-making moving forward."
     See more on future Kaʻū News Briefs.

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HULIHIA KῙLAUEA: A COMPLETE CHANGE is the new educational curriculum program for fourth graders at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. It is based on the 2018 Kīlauea high intensity eruption events.
     The three-part curriculum contains classroom portions to be used as stand-alone activities by teachers, as well as suggestions for a field visit to the park. Each component can be used locally or in classrooms nationwide to help students learn about geology, volcanic landscapes, and the ways communities work to recover from natural disasters.
     The Hulihia Kīlauea curriculum incorporates scientific and cultural study. While materials were developed for fourth grade classes, they can be adapted for other grade levels. The complete curriculum materials are available on the park's website.
Fourth graders walk the Kīlauea Iki Trail. NPS photo
     Hulihia Kīlauea was developed through Mosaics in Science and the NPS Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program. Mosaics in Science funded an 11-week internship with MyLynn Phan, a junior at the University of California, Davis. The goal of Mosaics in Science is to provide science-based internships for racially and ethnically-diverse college students to increase relevancy, diversity, and inclusion within the National Park Service. Through the NPS Teacher-Ranger-Teacher Program, Whitney Aragaki, a high school science teacher from Hilo, designed the curriculum so that it meets both national Next Generation Science Standards and Hawaiʻi specific HĀ outcomes.
     To research and develop the curriculum materials, Phan and Aragaki interviewed park staff and members of the local community who experienced the eruption. In addition to the first person accounts, they used materials from the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, art developed by one of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park's recent artists in residence, and additional Park resources.
     The Park's Acting Superintendent Rhonda Loh said, "We are excited to share this curriculum as a teaching tool for not only classrooms across the State of Hawaiʻi, but one that can be used in classrooms nationwide. We are grateful to all of our park partners and the many individual contributors who helped us to develop this unique interpretation of the Hawaiian experience."
Fourth graders are offered the chance to enter any national park in the U.S.
under the Kid in Every Park program. 
     For more information on educational curricula and educational programs available for students K-12, contact the Park's Education Office at havo_education@nps.gov. In addition to providing curricula materials, the office can schedule a field trip to the park or provide a distance learning opportunity for schools located off-island.

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SUBSCRIBERS NEED NEW REGISTRATION FOR ALERTS FROM HAWAI‘I COUNTY CIVIL DEFENSE AGENCY. On Monday, Sept. 23, Civil Defense will switch its messages and alerts service to a new vendor.
     To receive the new Civil Defense email and phone messages and alerts, subscribers, register at hawaiicounty.gov/departments/civil-defense/civil-defense-messages-and-alerts?fbclid=IwAR28DhrjL4VUgIse_fR32nLN7AqCFm2vrFxN5alQY-wJNDVpXTPur_c0diY.
     Questions? Contact Civil Defense, 808-935-0031.

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THE IDEA OF PUTTING U.S. TROOPS UNDER THE COMMAND OF SAUDI ARABIA'S PRINCE drew strong objection from Kaʻū's Representative in Congress, Tulsi Gabbard. She said Pres. Donald Trump "offered to place our military... under the command of Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, the dictator of Saudi Arabia." She said Trump "is betraying our troops."
     Trump and Saudi Arabia are blaming Iran for an attack on a Saudi processing facility that accounts for about five percent of the world's production. The loss of the facility preceded Monday's rise in crude oil prices by 14.7 percent, which may drive up the price of gasoline.
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, from the video
response she posted to Facebook.
     Referring to the attack, Trump tweeted: "There is reason to believe that we know the culprit, are locked and loaded depending on verification, but are waiting to hear from the Kingdom as to who they believe was the cause of this attack, and under what terms we would proceed!"
     Said Gabbard, "Trump's actions are a gross betrayal of my brothers and sisters in uniform, the American people, and our Constitution. We are not Trump's prostitutes, and we will not be pimped out to war for the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia." She said Trump's actions do not reflect an "America First" mindset, and that "his willingness to pimp out our military to the highest foreign bidder is a betrayal" of servicemen and women "who are ready to put our lives on the line for our country – not for the Islamist dictator of Saudi Arabia."
     Yemen Houthi rebels claimed responsibility for the attack, saying they used drones. However, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has accused Iran of "an act of war." Trump has decided to wait on intelligence before stating definitively that Iran is responsible, but has ordered new sanctions against the country.
     The facilities attacked Saturday by missiles and drones were the world's biggest petroleum-processing facility and an oil field, both owned by Aramco. BBC reports that it could "take weeks" for the processing facility to get back online. Analysts consulted by BBC are split as to whether gas prices will rise in response to higher crude oil prices.
     Watch Gabbard's video at facebook.com/TulsiGabbard/videos/1104741909711367/.

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A HERD OF TROPICAL STORMS AND WEATHER DISTURBANCES are cluttering the central and eastern Pacific this week.
     Tropical Storm Kiko, moving at 6 miles per hour, with 65 mph winds, was about 1,850 miles from South Point at 5 p.m. She is expected to develop back in to a hurricane by Friday morning, but is still too far away and unpredictable to forecast if she will have any effect on Kaʻū or the rest of the state.
Image from NOAA, annotation added
     The numbered areas, above, indicate weather disturbances that might affect Kaʻū but are forecast to dissipate or move away from the main Hawaiian Islands before becoming tropical storms or more.
     Tropical Storms Lorena and Mario are forecast to move north northeast, along the west coast of Central America.

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GIRLS VOLLEYBALL games were held at Waiakea in Hilo last night, where Kaʻū's teams fought valiantly against their opponents. Junior Varsity set scores were 25 to 7 and 25 to 19, with Waiakea taking both sets and the game. The Varsity Trojans scored closer – 25 to 20 in both the first and second set, 25 to 19 in the third – but Hilo's Warriors took all three sets and the game.
     Support the home team at games played in Kaʻū; the next home game is Friday, Sept. 27 at 6 p.m. See the full volleyball and football schedules, below.

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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
2019 Kaʻū High School Fall Athletics Schedule
See khpes.org/athletics-home for details and updates

Football, Division II:
Thu., Sept. 19, 7 p.m., Pāhoa hosts Kaʻū
Thu., Oct. 3, 7 p.m. Kamehameha hosts Kaʻū
Sat., Oct. 12, 1 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA
Sat., Oct. 19, 11 a.m., Kaʻū hosts Pāhoa
Sat., Oct. 26, 1 p.m., Kohala hosts Kaʻū
Fri. and Sat., Nov. 1 and 2, Div II BIIF Championship
Fri. and Sat., Nov. 15 and 16, HHSAA Div II Semifinals
Fri., Nov. 29, HHSAA Div II Championship

Girls Volleyball, Kaʻū District Gym:
Thu., Sept. 19, 6 p.m., Keaʻau hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Makualani hosts Kaʻū
Fri., Sept. 27, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts HPA
Wed., Oct. 2, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Pāhoa
Fri., Oct. 4, 6 p.m., Parker hosts Kaʻū
Tue., Oct. 8, 6 p.m., Kaʻū hosts Ehunui
Thu., Oct. 10, 6 p.m., Konawaena hosts Kaʻū
Mon., Oct. 14, 6 p.m., BIIF Div II First Round at Keaʻau
Tue., Oct. 15, 2:30 p.m., BIIF Div II Semifinals at Keaʻau
Wed., Oct. 16, 4 p.m., BIIF Div II Finals at Keaʻau
Wed.-Sat., Oct. 23-26, HHSAA DII Tournament, Oʻahu

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UPCOMING
THURSDAY, SEPT. 19
Registration Open: Colorful Craft, Thursday, Sept. 19-24, Ka‘ū District Gym multipurpose room. Program for grades K-8, takes place Wednesday, Sept. 25, 3:30-5p.m. Free. 928-3102, hawaiicounty.gov/pr-recreation

SATURDAY, SEPT. 21
6th Annual Ka‘ū Coffee Trail Run Race Day, Saturday, Sept. 21, 7.a.m, Ka‘ū coffee Mill. 5K, 10K, 1/2 Marathon races through macnut and coffee fields along slopes of Ka‘ū. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. Online registration open through midnight, Sept. 19: webscorer.com/register?raceid=166020. Race day (not online) registration closes at 6:30a.m. okaukakou.orgkaucoffeemill.com

Exhibit - 45th Tiny Treasures Invitational, Saturday, Sept. 21, daily, 9a.m.-5p.m.,Volcano Arts Center Gallery. Features small works created at the Volcano Collaboration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-7565, volcanoartcenter.org

Free Haircut, Shower, Clothes, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church. Kady and Drew Foster, 12 haircut slots available. Free hot showers. Big Island Giving Tree will hand out clothes and personal care items like razors and toothbrushes. 939-7000, stjudeshawaii.org

Hi‘iaka & Pele, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:30-11:30a.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderate, one-mile walk. nps.gov/havo

Zen Pen - Writing as Spiritual Practice with Tom Peek, Saturday, Sept. 21, 9:30a.m.-4p.m.Volcano Art Center. $65/VAC member, $75/non-member. Bring personal object, handheld mirror, and lunch. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

1st Annual Church Bazaar, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10a.m.-2p.m., Pāhala Holy Rosary Catholic Church. Auction, thrift shop, baked goods, craft goods, plants, and more. $10/steak plate; priority to pre-sale ticket holders. See church member or call Parish Office at 928-8208 for tickets.

Mixed Media Encaustic - Beginner and Intermediate with Mary Milelzcik, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10a.m.-2p.m.Volcano Art Center. $55/VAC member, $60/non-member, plus $25 supply fee. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222

Ocean View C.E.R.T. Mtg., Saturday, Sept. 21, 10a.m.-1p.m.Ocean View Community Center. Community Emergency Response Team monthly meeting and training. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Hula Kahiko - Kumu Hula Paul Neves with Hālau Ha‘a Kea o Kinohi, Saturday, Sept. 21, 10:30-11:30a.m., hula platform near Volcano Art Center Gallery. Hula performance. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.comvolcanoartcenter.org

Nā Mea Hula with Kumu Kaho‘okele Crabbe with Hālauolaokalani, Saturday, Sept. 21, 11a.m.-1p.m., Volcano Art Center Gallery porch. Hands-on cultural demonstration. Free; park entrance fees apply. 967-8222, volcanohula@gmail.comvolcanoartcenter.org

Ham Radio Mtg., Saturday, Sept. 21, 2-3p.m.Ocean View Community Center. 939-7033, ovcahi.org

Dances of Universal Peace, Saturday, Sept. 21, 6-7:30p.m., Methodist Hall, across from Nā‘ālehu Post Office. 939-9461, hualaniom2@yahoo.com

SUNDAY, SEPT. 22
Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund Ka‘ū Community Coastal Cleanup and Debris Survey, Saturday, Sept. 22. Free; donations appreciated. Limited space available; B.Y.O.-4WD okay. R.S.V.P. required, kahakai.cleanups@gmail.com. 769-7629, wildhawaii.org

Palm Trail, Sunday, Sept. 22, 9:30-12:30p.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Free, moderately difficult hike - 2.6 mile loop. nps.gov/havo

Kahuku ‘Ohana Day, Sunday, Sept. 22, noon-3p.m., Kahuku Unit, HVNP. Live music, family-friendly activities, hikes and more. Free. nps.gov/havo

TUESDAY, SEPT. 24
H.O.V.E. Road Maintenance Corp. Board Mtg., Tuesday, Sept. 24, 10a.m., H.O.V.E. RMC office, 92-8979 Lehua Lane, Ocean View. 929-9910, hoveroad.com

Ka‘ū Food Pantry, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 11:30a.m.-1p.m., St. Jude's Episcopal Church in Ocean View. Volunteers welcome. Dave Breskin, 319-8333

Operatic Theater with Artist-in-Residence, Alan Olejniczak, Saturday, Sept. 24, 7 p.m.KīlaueaVisitor Center Auditorium. Olenjniczak, playwright and librettist, presents excerpts from the first draft of an audio drama about the natural history and future of Hawai‘i Island. Free; park entrance fees apply. 965-6101, nps.gov/havo

ONGOING
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 7a.m., Saturday, Sept. 21, Ka‘ū Coffee Mill. Sponsored by Ka‘ū Coffee Mill and ‘O Ka‘ū Kākou. okaukakou.orgkaucoffeemill.com

Tutoring for Kaʻū Hugh & Pāhala Elementary is Available to All Students of the school, from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Grades Kindergarten-2nd will be in room 3; grades 3-6 will be in room 6 on Mondays, room 11 on Tuesdays through Thursdays; middle school students, will be in building Q; and high school students will be in room M-101 in the science building. Contact khpes.org or 808-313-4100 for more.

Nationwide 2019 Congressional App Challenge submissions from middle and high schoolers are open through Nov. 1. Submit to Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, CongressionalAppChallenge.us, apps "designed to promote innovation and engagement in computer science." All skill levels, all devices and platforms, and all programming languages, accepted.


Vendor Booth Space is Available for the Kamahalo Craft Fair. The 12th annual event will be held Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, Nov. 299 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturday, Nov. 309 a.m. to 3 p.m. Booths are open for crafters with quality homemade and homegrown products. Food vendors must prepare all food items in a certified kitchen and must have a Department of Health permit displayed prominently at their booth. Application online at thecoopercenter.org. Direct questions to 936-9705 or kilaueatutu@gmail.com.

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