The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: 05/01/2020

Sunday, May 31, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Sunday, May 31, 2020

The hot pond at the bottom of the collapsed Kīlauea Caldera approaches its first anniversary. See below, in
The Way We Were Last Year, for a look back at how the pond began. USGS photo

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

SIGNING A PETITION TO SAVE THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE is the call from state Sen. Kai Kahele. In a message today, he said, "Our letter carriers need our help! Postal workers are our family, friends, and neighbors. They are a critical fabric of our communities, particularly our rural communities throughout Hawaiʻi Congressional District 2. Throughout the COVID-19 crisis, they never stopped delivering essential products to households across the United States and Hawaiʻi.
"USPS is in imminent danger of running out of funding in the next several weeks and needs your help now. Click here to visit the Heroes Delivering website and sign their petition now.

"The protection of the Postal Service is not about politics, it's about ensuring that families and households across the country who rely upon delivering service should not face more hardship during this crisis. This is a moment for all of us to join forces to ensure that we all continue to move through the impacts of COVID-19 together," said Kahele.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A MESSAGE FROM WEST KAʻŪ'S STATE REP. DRU KANUHA takes a look at how the pandemic affected the Class of 2020 graduation celebrations and looks forward to the reopening of most businesses on Monday:

Virtual graduations, like this one for Nāʻālehu Elementary 6th graders,
are praised by Sen. Dru Kanuha. Screenshot from Olivia-Ann Thomas

     "Throughout the month of May, there were many celebrations for the graduating class of 2020. While practicing the State's social distancing mandates, we saw virtual graduation ceremonies, caravans of proud family members parading the streets, commemorative banners hanging on fences, and other heartfelt, creative gestures of aloha to honor our graduates. This just goes to show that aloha has no bounds as we connect remotely and share in this special moment with the graduating Class of 2020.
     "As we continue to successfully flatten the curve of COVID-19, in conjunction with the Counties, the State of Hawaiʻi will move forward to complete Phase 1 to reopen our economy on Monday, June 1. For the County of Hawaiʻi, places of worship, salons, barbershops, and restaurants have received the green light to reopen under the guidelines that will ensure the safety of employees and customers.
     "With the excitement surrounding the reopening of certain businesses, please be mindful of one another's health and safety. Therefore, please continue to wear a face mask when in public, wash your hands and sanitize high-touch surfaces regularly, and practice social distancing.
     "Stay safe and informed."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

See HFUU meeting with a presentation by Zach Bush, MD on Planetary Stress.

PLANETARY DOME UNDER STRESS IS A HAWAIʻI FARMERS UNION UNITED presentation online. Physician Zach Bush presents his observations of symptoms affecting all life on Earth.

A statement from HFUU says, "As a regeneratively-minded community of farmers, ranchers, fishers, and foodies, committed to the health of the ʻāina (that which feeds us) and our bodies, we are so honored to have Dr. Bush's manaʻo and its impact on the global narrative around viruses, global toxicity, and carbon sequestration." See youtube.com/watch?v=G8W7twV8O54&feature=youtu.be.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

AN EXTENSION FOR ALL DRIVER'S LICENSES, STATE IDs, AND INSTRUCTION PERMITS through the end of September is being hashed out between the Department of Transportation and the governor's office. The goal is to reduce the need for people to gather at licensing centers. The extension would be added to a future supplementary proclamation. Gov. Ige said, "Thanks to the actions of the majority of our residents, Hawaiʻi is one of the best-performing states in the country in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. We remain grateful and cautious as we move towards recovery. Providing an additional extension of credentials will allow our county DMVs to address the backlog that developed over this emergency period, while keeping our public servants and community members safe."

Driver's licenses or State IDs that expired on or after March 1, 2020, can be used at Transportation Security Administration checkpoints for up to one year after the card's expiration. See hidot.hawaii.gov/blog/2020/05/28/act-with-care-update-on-drivers-license-state-id/.

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Beach parks like Punaluʻu will retire their closed signs from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. starting tomorrow. Photo by Julia Neal

WHILE OUTDOOR COMMUNITY PARKS ARE OPEN – like Punaluʻu, Whittington, Waiʻōhinu, and Kahuku Park in Ocean View – Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Community Centers, the Pāhala Pool, and Nāʻālehu and Pāhala gymnasiums remain closed, according to Mayor Harry Kim's latest declaration. These rules are effective beginning tomorrow, June 1, and run through June 30:

Parks will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pavilions, shade structures, grills, and canopies larger than 10' x 10', are not allowed to be used. Social distancing must be observed. Gatherings must be less than ten people, and involve no organized or contact sports. No camping is allowed. All permits and reservations are canceled through June 30. However, commercial activities may resume.
Other parks and recreational facilities to remain closed are: all community centers and senior centers; all gymnasiums and covered play court facilities; Waiākea Recreation Center; all swimming pools; Hakalau Beach Park; Hoʻolulu Complex, excluding the outdoor tennis courts; Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole Park; Laurence J. Capellas Ballfield; Waiākea Waena Park; and Panaʻewa Rainforest Zoo & Gardens.

Panaʻewa Stadium, where events like the Stampede and gymkhana are
held, featuring Kaʻū paniolo and paniloa, are open for horse boarders and
those who store feed and supplies, only. Photo by Katie Graham

Remaining closed to the general public on weekdays, for the safe operation of approved childcare programs, are Greenwell Park & Sgt. Rodney J. T. Yano Memorial Hall, Waiākea Uka Park & Stanley Costales Waiākea Uka Gym, and Waimea Community Center.
Open for specific, limited term uses approved by the Director of Parks & Recreation are all rodeo arenas, Hilo Drag Strip, and Hilo Skeet Range.
All County cemeteries, including veterans' cemeteries administered by the County, remain open for visitation during their standard hours of operation.
Panaʻewa Equestrian Center remains open only for those persons with valid horse stall rental agreements that are actively boarding a horse or storing authorized equipment and/or supplies at the facility.
Hilo Municipal Golf Course remains open with modified rules for play in effect. The golf pro shop concession and restaurant concession may resume modified operations and hours subject to approval of the Director of Parks and Recreation.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

IN-PERSON SERVICES ARE SUSPENDED at all Department of Environmental Management administration offices through Tuesday, June 30. This includes the Department's administration, Solid Waste Division administration, the Abandoned/Derelict Vehicles Section (345 Kekūanāoʻa Street, Suite 41, Hilo), and the Wastewater Division administration and Engineering Section (108 Railroad Avenue, Hilo). This does not affect the transfer stations, West Hawaiʻi Sanitary Landfill (aka Puʻuanahulu), Hilo Sort Station, and wastewater treatment plants, which remain in operation as usual.

Transfer stations remain open, while administration offices are no-contact, only. Photo by Julia Neal

Payments for Solid Waste and Wastewater services are accepted by phone, mail, or drop box locations. Notary service and engineering services will be by appointment only. All other customer service inquiries will be handled by phone or email. Mail payments to 345 Kekūanāoʻa Street, Suite 41, Hilo, Hawaiʻi 96720 (attention: Solid Waste Division or Wastewater Division). Drop Boxes (for checks only) are available at the Department of Water Supply, 345 Kekūanāoʻa Street (in the front circular driveway), or on the exterior wall of the Motor Vehicle Registration Office at the Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 5, Hilo (by the U.S. Postal Service blue mailbox).

For payments by phone, for questions, or to schedule an appointment, call:

Administration: 961-8083; Solid Waste Customer Service: 961-8339; Wastewater Customer Service: 961-8338, or Wastewater Engineering: 8615.

A message from the Department says, "These social distancing measures are intended to help protect customers, our employees, and our Island community from COVID-19 infection. Please notify our office if you scheduled an appointment but are feeling ill, and we will gladly reschedule it. The public's understanding is very much appreciated during this challenging time."

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ʻOHANA FOOD DROP from The Food Basket is available at Nāʻālehu's Sacred Heart Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy on Monday, June 1. Food can be picked up from 10 a.m. until supplies run out. People can receive a multi-day supply of shelf-stable and fresh food, depending on supply. Call The Food Basket at 322-1418 to confirm.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

There is one reported case of COVID-19 in Kaʻū. White is zero
cases. Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange is six to ten cases.
Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. Red is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map

NO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, and all 81 cases on-island since the pandemic began are recovered. The count was reduced by one due to a false positive test in Kohala.

One new case was reported today in the state. It was in Maui County, which has reported 120 cases since the pandemic began. Oʻhua has reported 421, and Kauaʻi 20.Statewide, 652 people have been confirmed positive for the virus since the pandemic began. Seventeen people have died - none on this island, where there was only one overnight hospitalization.

The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says, "The Island and State have responded well in efforts to minimize the spread of the Coronavirus. This has allowed Hawaiʻi to go forward. As announced, due to the communities good work, openings of businesses, parks, beaches, and activities are occurring. Individual opening dates will be dependent on readiness to meet the requirements of safety. If assistance is needed, please call the Hawaiʻi County Task Force at 935-0031.

"Ongoing forward, know that the virus threat remains and we need to continue to follow the preventive policies to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. A huge and grateful thank you to the community of Hawaiʻi for doing your part to keep Hawaiʻi safe. Thank you for listening. Have a beautiful Sunday. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."

In the United States, more than 1.82 million cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 106,000. Worldwide, more than 6.11 million have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is over 370,000.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

SULFUR DIOXIDE LEVELS DURING THE 2018 KĪLAUEA ERUPTION are the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:

New assessment of Kīlauea's extreme SO2 emission rates in 2018.

If you were around the Island of Hawai‘i - or even other Hawaiian Islands, or Guam! - between May and August of 2018, you likely know that Kīlauea's lower East Rift Zone eruption released a lot of sulfur dioxide. But how much is a lot?

Early in the eruption, HVO reported SO2 emission rates of 15,000 tons per day of SO2. As this was already three times the 5,000 t/d average of the past few years, it seemed very high.

A thick, dense plume of SO2 and other volcanic gases billows from the lava fountains at fissure 8 on June 19, 2018.

SO2 emission rates during the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea were so high that they required a new data analysis technique.

USGS photo by P. Nadeau

Yet even then, we realized that there was so much SO2 that traditional measurement methods could not adequately quantify the emissions. To measure SO2 emission rates, volcanologists use a device called a spectrometer. The instrument is mounted to a vehicle or aircraft, which passes under the SO2 plume and measures absorption of sunlight by SO2 overhead. The more SO2, the less ultraviolet light that reaches the spectrometer. In 2018, there was so much SO2 that the spectrometer could barely detect any UV light at all, which made it difficult to determine the exact amount of gas overhead.

Think of it this way: a thin fabric curtain over your window blocks some sunlight. Add a second layer of fabric, and more light is blocked. Add a third and fourth layer, and it gets darker still. Maybe by seven or eight layers of curtains, no sunlight comes through anymore. At that point, if you added ten more curtains, or a hundred more curtains, it wouldn't matter – after seven or eight, all the light is already blocked.

That's the situation we encountered in 2018. We knew that more than 15,000 t/d of SO2 were being emitted, but it was hard to say just how much more.

Luckily, the spectrometer measures UV light over a range of wavelengths. Normally, with low SO2 emissions, we examine wavelengths where SO2 absorption is significant, which allows us to detect even very small amounts of gas. But 2018 was different – essentially no light was reaching the instrument. We then examined a part of the UV spectrum where SO2 absorption is 500 times weaker, so some UV light would still be detectable. Kind of like switching to clear plastic shower curtains to block light at your window. Twenty fabric curtains would block all the light, but twenty clear plastic curtains will still let in light.

The new results were startling! After re-processing all measurements in the new wavelength range, the data revealed that for much of June and early July of 2018, fissures in the LERZ emitted nearly 200,000 t/d of SO2.

These are the highest SO2 emission rates measured at Kīlauea using the UV spectrometer technique, which began in the late 1970s. Early Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō high lava fountains, and perhaps Mauna Loa's 1984 eruption, may have had similar emission rates, but those measurements likely suffered from the same underestimation as our initial 2018 analyses. Unfortunately, because of older spectrometer technology, data from the 1980s cannot be reprocessed in the same way as 2018 data.

We now estimate that the 2018 eruption emitted over 10 megatonnes, or millions of tones, of SO2 between May and early August. In those three months alone, Kīlauea emitted five times the SO2 it emitted in all of 2017. Few recent eruptions on Earth have released that much SO2, and when they do, they are generally large explosive eruptions at stratovolcanoes.

Most similar to Kīlauea's eruption was the 2014 Holuhraun fissure eruption in Iceland, which also emitted about 10 Mt of SO2, though in six months rather than just three. For comparison, the largest volcanic eruption of the past century, Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in 1991, only released about twice the SO2 mass of Kīlauea's 2018 eruption, albeit explosively on a single day.

SO2 issues from plumes due to lava entering the ocean. USGS photo

Since the extremely high emissions in 2018 ended, Kīlauea has been releasing far less SO2. By late 2018, SO2 emissions were about 30 t/d at the summit and Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, and near-zero in the LERZ. By early 2019, Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō had dropped to near-zero levels as well. And though some additional SO2 is dissolving into the new lake in Halema‘uma‘u Crater, current emission rates are the lowest we have seen at Kīlauea in over 30 years of measurements.

Volcano Activity Updates

Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly.

Kīlauea monitoring data for the past month show variable but typical rates of seismicity and ground deformation, low rates of sulfur dioxide emissions, and only minor geologic changes since the end of eruptive activity in September 2018. The water lake at the bottom of Halema‘uma‘u continues to slowly expand and deepen. For the most current information on the lake, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html

LERZ fissures expel SO2 along with other gases and lava. USGS photo

Mauna Loa is not erupting and remains at Volcano Alert Level ADVISORY. This alert level does not mean that an eruption is imminent or that progression to eruption from current level of unrest is certain. Mauna Loa updates are issued weekly.

This past week, about 120 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (~5 miles). Global Positioning System measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations at the Sulphur Cone monitoring site on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. Fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit have not changed significantly. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
There were four events with three or more felt reports in the Hawaiian islands during the past week: a magnitude-3.7 earthquake 8 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on May 27 at 2:32 a.m., a magnitude-3.3 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) WNW of Volcano at 6 km (4 mi) depth on May 26 at 5:55 a.m., a magnitude-3.0 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on May 25 at 7:16 a.m., and a magnitude-3.8 earthquake 7 km (4 mi) NE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on May 21 at 12:42 a.m.
HVO continues to closely monitor both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa for any signs of increased activity.
Visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake info, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

A black streak down the side of Kīlauea Caldera was observed just a few weeks before the hot pond in the caldera
was discovered. USGS photo

Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year

Last year, in early June, the appearance of a "black streak" on the wall of Kīlauea Caldera sparked a response from U.S. Geological Survey, after the National Park Service posted to Facebook, "Something new has appeared on the southwest side of Kīlauea caldera resembling a large crack. What is going on?"

Comparison shots of the pond from July 25 and Aug. 1, 2019.
USGS photos

Comparison shots of the pond from Aug. 7 and Aug. 23, 2019.
USGS photos

USGS Research Geologist Don Swanson replied, "What I have dubbed a 'black streak' on the caldera wall is flowing water. The water comes from a shallow perched aquifer impounded by dikes in the southwest rift zone. Water flows southward along and in the sand flat below Crater Rim Drive but is stopped by the dikes, which form a dam. For one of several reasons – increasing water pressure, failure of wet sand, small rock fall – water breaks out of the aquifer and pours into the caldera. This phenomenon was first noted on July 4, 2018, and has been observed repeatedly since then. There are at least two different sites for such water flow, both just north of the southwest rift zone. The flowing water has eroded ravines or gullies that resemble cracks. Water flow generally lasts several hours and then stops as water in the aquifer is depleted. But, days to weeks later, water reappears."

In later July 2019, a pond began to form in the middle of the lowest part of the collapsed caldera. It began slowly but grew steadily. The water has shifted from a bright green to a rusty orange. It is now over 100 feet deep, and has an area larger than one and a half football fields.

Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar

directory f or farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is

free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout

Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at

kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your

business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com. However, all non-essential activities are canceled through the end of May.

ONGOING

Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.

A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is June 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The next drive-thru screening at Nāʻālehu Community Center will be held Wednesday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Screening will be carried out by Aliʻi Health, with support from County of Hawai‘i COVID-19 Task Force, Premier Medical Group and Pathways Telehealth.
Wearing masks is required for everyone. Those visiting screening clinics will be asked to show photo ID, and any health insurance cards – though health insurance is not required to be tested. They are also asked to bring their own pen to fill in forms.

To bypass the screening queue at community test sites, patients can call ahead to Pathways Telehealth, option 5 at 808-747-8321. The free clinic will also offer on-site screening to meet testing criteria. Physicians qualify those for testing, under the guidance of Center for Disease Control & Prevention and Hawaiʻi's COVID-19 Response Task Force.
For further information, call Civil Defense at 935-0031.

Ocean View Swap Meet is open at Ocean View makai shopping center, near Mālama Market. Hours for patrons are 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Vendor set-up time is 5 a.m. Masks are required for all vendors and patrons.

ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market in Nāʻālehu is open three days per week – Monday, Wednesday, and Friday – from 8 a.m. to noon. The goal is no more than 50 customers on the grounds at a time. Vendor booths per day are limited to 25, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required to attend the market. Social distancing will be enforced.
A wide selection of fresh vegetables and fruits, prepared take away foods, assorted added value foods, breads and baked goods, honey, cheese, grass-fed beef, fish, vegetable plants, masks, handmade soaps, coffee, and more are offered on various days. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374, for more and to apply to vend.

Volcano Farmers Market at Cooper Center on Wright Road, off of Old Volcano Highway, is open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Call 808-967-7800.

Free Breakfast and Lunch for Anyone Eighteen and Under is available at Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary and at Nāʻālehu Elementary on weekdays (no holidays) through Friday, July 17. Each youth must be present to receive a meal. Service is drive-up or walk-up, and social distancing rules (at least six feet away) are observed. Breakfast is served from 7:30 a.m. to 8 a.m., lunch from 11:30 a.m. to noon. Food is being delivered on Wednesdays to students in Green Sands, Discovery Harbour, and Ocean View.

St. Jude's Episcopal Church Soup Kitchen is open, with a modified menu and increased health & safety standards, every Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended. Services are posted online on Sundays at stjudeshawaii.org.

The Food Basket's ʻOhana Food Drop is available once a month at four Kaʻū and Volcano locations. People can receive a multi-day supply of shelf-stable and fresh food, depending on supply. Call The Food Basket at 933-6030 for Pāhala and Volcano or at 322-1418 for Nāʻālehu or Ocean View. Food can be picked up from 10 a.m. until pau – supplies run out – at:

Nāʻālehu's Sacred Heart Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy on Monday, June 1.

Ocean View's Kahuku Park on Tuesday, June 8.

Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24.

Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

Enroll in Kua O Ka Lā's Hīpuʻu Virtual Academy for school year 2020-2021, grades four through eight. The Hawaiian Focused Charter School teaches with an emphasis on Hawaiian language and culture. The blended curriculum is offered through online instruction and community-based projects, with opportunities for face-to-face gatherings (with precautions), in an "Education with Aloha" environment.

Kua O Ka Lā offers a specialized program that provides students with core curriculum, content area, and electives in-keeping with State of Hawaiʻi requirements. Combined with Native Hawaiian values, culture, and a place-based approach to education, from the early morning wehena – ceremonial school opening – Kua O Ka Lā students are encouraged to walk Ke Ala Pono – the right and balanced path.

The school's website says Kua O Ka Lā has adopted Ke Ala Pono "to describe our goal of nurturing and developing our youth. We believe that every individual has a unique potential and that it is our responsibility to help our students learn to work together within the local community to create a future that is

pono – right." The school aims to provide students with "the knowledge and skills, through Hawaiian values and place-based educational opportunities, that prepare receptive, responsive, and self-sustaining individuals that live 'ke ala pono.'"
See kuaokala.org to apply and to learn more about the school. Call 808-981-5866 or 808-825-8811, or email info@kuaokala.org for more.

Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries are Open for Pick-Up Services Only. Nāʻālehu is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala is open Tuesday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Library patrons schedule Library Take Out appointment times to pick up their hold item(s) at their favorite libraries by going to HSPLS Library Catalog and placing a hold on any item(s) they want to borrow, or they may call their favorite library branch to place a hold with the library staff. After receiving a notice that item(s) are ready for pick up, patrons schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. For patrons who placed holds during the closure, their item(s) are ready for pickup after the patron schedules a Library Take Out appointment. For more information, visit librarieshawaii.org.

Free Book Exchanges at the laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu are provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Everyone is invited to take books they want to read. They may keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them to the Book Exchange to make them available to others in the community. The selection of books is replenished weekly at both sites.

Make Reservations for Father's Day at Crater Rim Café in Kīlauea Military Camp for Sunday, June 21 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Seating limited due to social distancing. Dinner also available to go. The main course is Prime Rib and Vegetable Alfredo Pasta Bake, with side dishes and dessert, for $27.95 per person. Call 967-8356 for dine-in reservations, to-go orders, and current event information. KMC is open to all authorized patrons and sponsored guests. Park entrance fees apply.

Kīlauea Visitor Center Auditorium Closed for Renovation through June 30. The Park is closed until further notice due to COVID-19 spread mitigation. A popular seven-and-a-half minute 2018 eruption video will be shown on a television in the exhibits area, once the Park and center reopen, and is available online for free download.

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

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.

Saturday, May 30, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, May 30, 2020

Summer Fun will open enrollment for two days only, this Wednesday and Thursday. While
there will be no Independence Day Parade this year with Summer Fun keiki, there will be
Summer Fun at Nāʻālehu Community Center and Kaʻū District Gym. Photo by Julia Neal

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

SUMMER FUN WILL GO FORWARD AT NĀʻĀLHEU AND PĀHALA. The county made the announcement yesterday, naming the sites at Nāʻālaehu Community Center in Nāʻālehu Park and Rep. Robert N. Herkes Gymnasium & Shelter - the Kaʻū District Gym. Summer Fun will run from 8 a.m. to noon, Monday through Friday, and include a snack and take home-lunch. Enrollment is open to children who have completed 3rd, 4th, 5th, or 6th grade this past school year. The program will be hosted at 13 park facilities around the Island. There is no charge.

Enrollment will begin this Wednesday, June 3 at 7:45 a.m. and close on Thursday, June 4 at 4:30 p.m. Enrollment will be accepted from parents/guardians via electronic submission at hawaiicounty.gov/summer-fun or by calling the Recreation Division at 961-8740, during business hours only: 7:45 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. No information left on voicemail will be accepted.

Summer Fun will be held at Kaʻū District Gym and Nāʻālehu
Community Center. Photo by Julia Neal

Online enrollment is strongly encouraged, as staff availability to take phone calls and process enrollments is limited. No walk-in enrollment applications will be accepted. Participants are limited to enrolling at one site. Each enrollment application allows for up to four children from the same household.
Participants at each site will be chosen via a random selection method, as space is limited. Selected participants will be contacted by Recreation staff by Wednesday, June 10, at which time an appointment for submitting completed registration forms will be arranged. All other enrollees will be placed on a waitlist should a program site determine it is able to expand or if prior selected participants exit the program.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this year's Summer Fun program will be significantly modified to address the health and safety of program participants and staff. The program will adhere to all federal, state, and county-level rules and standards for safe operation, as appropriate, along with various applicable industries and organizations.
This includes screening each morning prior to entry, a mandatory face mask/cover policy, physical distancing during program activities, and enhanced sanitization procedures. The State of Hawai‘i Department of Health's Guidelines for Child Care Facilities to Reopen or Continue Care will be incorporated.
The Summer Fun program may be extended up to an additional two weeks, through July 31, at some or all the sites, should resources become available. Participants will be notified when a determination is made for their specific program site.

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Shannon Matson is running for Richard Onishi's position as state House Representative, to represent East Kaʻū.
Photo from Shannon Matson

SHANNON MATSON FILED TO REPRESENT EAST KAʻŪ IN THE STATE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES. She filed her papers on May 26. The 33-year-old Progressive Democrat, entered the District 3 State House of Representatives race against four-term incumbent, Richard Onishi. Matson, born in Honokaʻa, current resident of Hawaiian Acres, will face Onishi in the August 8 primary.

Matson's platform aligns with Progressive Democrats who are challenging incumbent, establishment Democrats nationwide, with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez the most notable and successful example. Matson's positions on issues like living wage, Medicare-for-All, and Green New Deal, which can be found at electshannonmatson.com, are nearly identical to the positions that catapulted AOC to fame. Matson said she was prepared to adopt the standard Progressive ground game that promotes door-to-door canvassing as a sure way to gain votes, but the pandemic put a serious damper on that strategy.

"Of course I'm disappointed that I haven't been out there meeting voters face-to-face at their doors," said Matson. "Reaching out to people and connecting with them is the essence of a grassroots campaign, and it's especially important when people feel they've been neglected, but we are using social media to get the word out about my platform, and I am keeping up with my community volunteer work to help link people to food and resources and show how committed I am to serving my community."

Shannon Matson plans to travel to Kaʻū soon, to
campaign as much in-person as possible, by distributing signs.
Photo from Shannon Matson

Matson serves on the board of Recycle Hawaiʻi and is active in the local Democratic Party as the former Vice-Chair for the Hawaiʻi County Democrats.

Matson said her decision to run for office "is based on her strong desire to represent her community over those of corporate interests." She promised to take no corporate donations, and agreed to campaign expenditure limits, as well as seeking partial public funding through meeting the requirements of taking $100 or less donations from Hawaiʻi residents.

As a graduate of the Hawaiʻi Alliance for Progressive Action's first Kuleana Academy in 2016, Matson received leadership training for mounting a successful political campaign. Kuleana Academy is supported by foundations seeking to move environmental and social justice advocates from the frontlines of these issues into the halls of power. Matson said she was unsure if she would make her contribution to the Progressive movement as a candidate herself, until she took a hard look at the conditions in her district and "the continuous failure of state government to improve the standard of living for the thousands of people who live off power and on water catchment there." She said that one of her priorities as an elected official will be to jumpstart the process of providing potable water to everyone in District 3 by securing funding for a water development plan that will assess the various options available to the area's residents.

"I was recently volunteering at a food distribution event held at Mountain View Park where families were also coming to fill their water from the county spigots. The entire time we were there, people were lining up to fill their jugs. I never felt this issue so deeply before. I'm running to make a difference. One of the biggest ways I believe I can help District 3 families is getting a full assessment of the water access options available to them and implementing the best options district-wide. This will help create jobs and, most importantly, make sure all families have reliable and easy access to clean water."

For more information about Shannon Matson and statements on her positions, see electshannonmatson.com. Call (808) 937-3037 or visit her website.

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GAINING FOOD SUSTAINABILITY FOR HAWAIʻI and other U.S. Island Territories is the goal of a letter Hawaiʻi members of the House of Representatives, and representatives from other island territories. Here is Part III of the letter. See Part I in Thursday's Kaʻū News Briefs and Part II in Friday's Kaʻū News Briefs. Both Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Rep. Ed Case signed on:

Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (NIFA)

The SCBGP has been essential in helping diversify Island food crops. Limited funding however has resulted in excellent projects being turned down and falling to the wayside. We request a minimum baseline allocation of $500,000 per State and Territory.

Germplasm

Hawaiʻi and the U.S. Territories are increasingly at risk of losing gene traits for indigenous plants, foods, and flowers that have evolved over time to adapt to their environments due to natural disasters, invasive species, and climate change. Germplasm collections are key to the preservation of native plants, foods, and flower crops. As such, we request funding to expand tropical and subtropical germplasm collections.

OKK Market in Nāʻālehu features ready-to-eat food as well as fresh produce

and meats. Photo by Lora Botanova

Plant Protection and Quarantine Program (APHIS)

Invasive species are wreaking havoc on Hawaiʻi and U.S. Territory food production industries. Stopping invasive species at ports of entry is critical if the Islands are to build greater food sustainability. We request additional funding for the APHIS PPQ program.

Farm Storage Facility Loan Program (FSA)

The COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a weak link in the supply chain between food producers and consumers. Storage facilities are key to building sustainable food systems in the Islands. We request robust funding for the FSFL program and a one-time modification for the FSFL program to waive the down payment requirement for Hawaiʻi and U.S. Territory food producers.

Floriculture and Horticulture

Floriculture and horticulture businesses have been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic. New flower and plant breeds are key to this industry's future. As such, we request robust funding for tropical and subtropical flower and plant research and breeding programs to increase tolerance from insect pests, diseases, and other climate change impacts; testing of new organic and non-organic pesticides; and implementing areawide integrated pest management and biological control programs.

Commodity Purchases

The COVID-19 pandemic has undermined the market for agricultural producers across the nation. In order to help all food producers rebuild, we request that you make additional resources available for the following USDA commodity purchase programs: Commodity Supplemental Food Program; School and Child Nutrition Food Programs; and Food Purchase Programs.

Local produce is an important food source in Kaʻū.
Photo by Lora Botanova

Personal Protection Equipment for the Food Production Industry

The agricultural industry is considered essential, yet workers throughout the food supply chain lack PPE to limit their exposure to COVID-19. We request funding to supply PPE to the agricultural industry workforce, and that such funding be directed to Cooperative Extensions which have extensive producer networks and can deliver PPE with guidance on how to use and maintain the PPE.

Loan Forbearance and Deferral

Debt servicing is a fixed cost that is common to almost all agricultural producers, but under the present circumstances loan payments decrease liquidity that farmers and ranchers need to develop new markets and reconfigure their businesses. We request language to establish a program of loan forbearance and deferral so farmers and ranchers may adjust their operations. We suggest an initial period of nine months, with the option to renew for an additional nine months.

Expansion of Weather Disaster Programs

While the USDA may be reluctant to activate its disaster loan, crop insurance, and noninsured crop assistance programs at this time, these well-established programs are familiar to farmers, USDA employees, and Farm Credit System lenders and will therefore be easier to implement compared to new programs. While we understand concerns about weather disaster in the coming months, the extraordinary scope of the COVID-19 crisis requires an urgent response. We therefore request that the House leadership and appropriators direct the Secretary of the USDA to use his authority to activate existing USDA response programs to cover COVID-19 and other emergency issues.

Masks are required at OKK Market. Photo by Bryanna Ehls

Flexible Payment System

Even before the current crisis, SNAP and non-SNAP nutrition assistance beneficiaries faced challenges accessing farmers markets and 0other farmer-direct products, now only exacerbated with COVID-19 related restrictions. Some of the challenges are: (1) limited internet access, (2) social distancing guidelines and stay-at-home orders, (3) limited or no public transportation, and (4) cyber security needs for financial transactions and personal identifying information. These issues are especially important within our diverse Island Communities. We therefore request that House leadership and appropriators direct the Secretary of Agriculture to develop regulatory flexibility to ensure SNAP and non-SNAP federal nutrition assistance beneficiaries have access to farmer-direct products.

Organic Certification

USDA supports producers' transition to organic production through its National Organic Certification Cost Share Program. While not every producer will choose this option, some may transition as they look to rebuild their business. We request one-time funding of $1 million for the Agricultural Marketing Service to provide technical assistance for Hawaiʻi and U.S. Territory food producers for organic certification and accreditation, and a one-time modification to the Farm Service Agency cost share from 75 percent to 90 percent to be certified an organic farm operation.

In conclusion, we ask for your full consideration of these proposals to help Hawai'i and U.S. Territory farmers and ranchers weather the COVID-19 pandemic economic impacts and modernize their food production systems. We thank you for your leadership during this time of crisis.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

ST. JUDE'S will celebrate Pentecost Sunday, May 31 online. Click here for the Worship page.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

Drew Foster, at work on
13-yr-old Rayco Nielsen, in January.
Photo from Foster Hair Design

NEW PRECAUTIONS AT FOSTER HAIR DESIGN in Nāʻālehu will accompany their reopening on Monday, June 1. To book an appointment, call 895-2151 or go to fosterhair.com.

New safety guidelines for the Fosters include: following the state's Safety Guidelines for Barber and Beauty Shops; instituting social distancing in the salon -- 6-foot distances between stations, no waiting chairs, only customers receiving services inside the shop; clients and employees must wear face masks; customers with appointments will wait outside the building until one of the Fosters – Kady or Drew – comes outside and says they are ready to serve them; hand sanitizer will be required and available; hand-washing areas will be available; towels, equipment, and other items will be stored in closed containers; no hugs or handshakes, "Which will be very difficult," said the Fosters.

Shears, clipper blades, and other items will be disinfected between customers, as always. Each customer will wear a fresh cape and the chairs will be wiped between clients. Surfaces will be wiped as well.

Anyone who is feeling ill or who has recently been ill is asked to cancel their appointment and reschedule.

Kady Foster, in January. Photo from Foster Hair Design

Kady Foster told The Kaʻū Calendar, "We're gearing up and getting excited for the June 1 opening! Drew passed his barber exam in March and is now a full-fledged, licensed barber. That's exciting! We truly want to thank the community, our clients, and our friends for their support during the past couple months. Our family feels incredibly fortunate to call Kaʻū home.

"We're really looking forward to getting back into the shop and reconnecting with everyone. We're refining our service menu, as well, and we're doing a little re-design of the shop. Slots are filling up fast… Drew is still offering monthly barber specials for men and boys. This is definitely an adjustment for us, so we appreciate everyone's patience."

See January 25 Kaʻū News Briefs for more on the Fosters.

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WATCH WILLIE K HANA HOU tomorrow, Sunday, May 31. The show to remember the entertainer on KGMB (CBS) airs from noon to 3 p.m. and on KHNL (NBC) from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.

KGMB and KHNL are partnering with Emme Tomimbang, Hawaiʻi News Now Entertainment Reporter Billy V, Cha Thompson, and others from the entertainment industry to remember and salute the late Willie K with a special, day-long broadcast of memorable moments from the life of the vocalist, composer, instrumentalist, actor, and philosopher.

Willie K at the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, where he accepted a Lifetime
Achievement Award. Photo from Willie K

Willie K died May 18, at the age of 60, from cancer.

The schedule is: noon to 3 p.m., You May Not Kiss the Bride, a 2011 romantic comedy starring Katherine McPhee, Dave Annable, Mena Suvari, and Kathy Bates, with Willie K in a featured role, and filmed in Hawaiʻi; 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Memorable Moments of the Nā Hōkū Hanohano Awards, a compilation of clips from the Hawaiian music industry's premier ceremony, recognizing outstanding accomplishments in music and video, and focusing on performances and wins of Willie K; 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., Hot Hawaiian Nights featuring Willie K, an episode taped in July 2005, where Willie K took to the stage at Hapa's in Maui, played the hits, and brought down the house; 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., Emme's Island Moments: Life on Stage Four, a re-broadcast from Fall of 2019 recounting

Willie K's career, the discovery of his cancer, and his journey through treatment. Willie K

"shares the fear, shock, acceptance, courage, and love of life he found through the process exclusively with longtime friend and confidant Emme Tomimbang."

Interspersed between programs will be special comments from pillars of the entertainment industry in Hawaiʻi, who had the privilege of knowing and working with Willie K, such as Cha Thompson, Josh Tatofi, Kalani Peʻa, and Mick Fleetwood.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see Facebook. Follow us on Instagram and Twitter. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar and our latest print edition at kaucalendar.com.

There is one reported case of COVID-19 in Kaʻū. White is no cases.
Yellow is one to five cases. Light orange is six to ten cases.
Dark orange (not pictured) is 11 to 20 cases. Red is 21 to 50 cases.
Hawaiʻi Department of Health map

NO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, and all 82 cases on-island since the pandemic began are recovered. Statewide, three new cases - two on Oʻahu and one in Maui county - are reported today, with a total of 651 people having been confirmed positive for the virus since the pandemic began.

The daily message from Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Director Talmadge Magno says there are "no active cases for Hawaiʻi Island. Thank you for doing your part.

"These numbers reinforce the importance of following the policies of distancing, gatherings, cleanliness, face coverings, and keeping yourself physically and emotionally healthy. The virus threat remains and we need to continue to get better in following the preventive policies of not spreading the coronavirus.

"Hawaiʻi has been identified by Johns Hopkins University data as tied with Montana for the lowest per capita infection rate in the Nation. Thank you for doing your part. Thank you for listening. Have a beautiful weekend and be safe. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."

In the United States, more than 1.81 million cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 105,000.

Worldwide, more than 6.05 million have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is over 369,000.

This time last year, U.S. Geological Survey wrote about their "new eyes in the sky for monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes," Unmanned Aircraft Systems, aka drones. The weekly Volcano Watch is written by USGS HVO scientists and affiliates:

A USGS pilot and Hawaiian Volcano Observatory gas geochemist prepare to conduct a test flight of an unmanned

aerial system on Kīlauea Volcano in November, 2018. The UAS was outfitted with a prototype miniaturized

multi-gas sensor for the detection of volcanic gases emitted by Kīlauea, including sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide.

USGS photo by Patricia Nadeau

"HVO is no rookie when it comes to using flight to assist with monitoring Hawaiian volcanoes. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft have transported HVO volcanologists for decades, giving them access for visual and thermal observations, equipment maintenance, and other geophysical and geochemical measurements. But the 2018 eruption of Kīlauea Volcano presented an opportunity for HVO to adopt a new airborne technology – Unmanned Aircraft Systems; UAS or 'drones' – to better monitor the eruption than with manned flight alone.

Previously, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo used UAS to map the 2014 Pāhoa lava flow. Other external collaborators have also previously flown short campaigns at Kīlauea's summit and at Puʻu ʻŌʻō with permission of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. But before the 2018 eruption, the USGS itself had not employed UAS to monitor an eruption in Hawaiʻi.

Images like this one of HVO and Jaggar museum,

taken after the 2018 eruption, are made

possible by UASs. HVO photo

In 2018, however, UAS teams from across the USGS, as well as other agencies within the U.S. Department of the Interior, were mobilized for the Kīlauea eruption response. Through most of the activity, UAS crews worked 24/7, sometimes splitting into multiple teams so that measurements could be made at both the summit and lower East Rift Zone of Kīlauea simultaneously.

The most basic capability of the UAS during the 2018 eruption was simple video imaging and streaming. This allowed for documentation of eruptive features that would not otherwise have been accessible for study due to hazardous conditions.

In a more practical sense, UAS imaging also offered enhanced situational awareness for the eruption response. UAS images helped identify where new lava breakouts were happening or were likely to occur. In one instance, a USGS UAS helped with the evacuation of a Puna resident as a lava flow quickly approached.

Some of the UAS were outfitted with thermal cameras, which provided images that were used to create detailed maps of the lava flows. Thermal imagery was also used to identify the hottest, most active portions of the flow field, which was particularly useful when visible images were not able to differentiate between slightly older and slightly newer flows.

More technical applications of UAS-based imaging included the creation of digital elevation models and measurements of lava flow speeds within channels. By using imagery to determine the height of newly emplaced lava, the new DEMs could be compared to pre-eruption DEMs to calculate the volume of lava erupted.

At Kīlauea's summit, DEMs helped HVO assess the new landscape of the collapsing caldera and determine just how much collapse was occurring. Along the rift zone, videos taken above fast-flowing lava channels helped with calculations of how much and how quickly lava was erupting from the fissures.

Beyond the UAS imaging opportunities, the 2018 eruption was the first time that the USGS mounted gas sensors on UAS in Hawaiʻi. The fissures were too dangerous to approach on foot to measure the gas chemistry, but a multi-gas sensor mounted on a UAS helped determine the chemistry of the eruptive plumes.

Two USGS UAS pilots perform a routine inspection of a UAS system prior to a flight at the summit of Kīlauea in

June 2018. The UAS for this particular flight was outfitted with a multi-gas sensor to identify any new degassing

sources within the collapsing summit caldera. All UAS flights inside Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park were

conducted with explicit permission of the National Park Service. USGS photo by P. Nadeau

Likewise, at the summit, with collapse events and potential explosion hazards, ground-based gas measurements within Kīlauea caldera were not possible. UAS-based measurements were the only safe method for measuring the location, chemistry, and amount of volcanic gas released at the summit.

Having UAS capabilities for the 2018 eruption enabled HVO to obtain crucial data that would otherwise have been difficult or impossible to obtain. However, you may have noticed that while this article refers to UAS teams from across the USGS traveling to Hawaiʻi for the eruption response, it makes no mention of in-house HVO pilots. That's because, in 2018, HVO didn't have any certified UAS pilots with the skills required for flying in hazardous areas.

That changed in the months following the eruption: Several HVO staff members became licensed UAS operators, allowing HVO to add UAS capabilities to the monitoring repertoire.

Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar

directory f or farms, ranches, takeout. Print edition of The Kaʻū Calendar is

free, with 7,500 distributed on stands and to all postal addresses throughout

Kaʻū, from Miloliʻi through Volcano throughout the district. Read online at

kaucalendar.com and facebook.com/kaucalendar. To advertise your

business or your social cause, contact kaucalendarads@gmail.com.

ONGOING

Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.

Nāʻālehu's Sacred Heart Church at 95-558 Mamālahoa Hwy on Monday, June 1.

Ocean View's Kahuku Park on Tuesday, June 8.

Volcano's Cooper Center at 19-4030 Wright Road on Wednesday, June 24.

Pāhala's Kaʻū District Gym at 96-1149 Kamani Street on Tuesday, June 30.

On-Call Emergency Box Food Pantry is open at Cooper Center Tuesdays through Saturdays from 11 a.m. to noon. Call 967-7800 to confirm.

See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for farms, ranches, takeout.

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.