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| Kazaumura lava tube system, with a former underground lava lake, under the surface of Kīlauea. Photo from National Geographic |
HAWAIʻI IS CHOSEN TODAY FOR THE COMPASS, A NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC online publication. The presentation includes a National Geographic Magazine story featuring Kaʻū residents and internationally renowned cavers and lava tube preservationists Ann and Peter Bosted of Ocean View. The Compass also includes a story asking: Why do so many people live near active volcanoes? Another explains the difference between kahiko and auana hula, and focuses on the Merrie Monarch and Hula O Nā Keiki. Another is called Everything to Know About Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.
The story about the Bosteds describes Ocean View: "From outer space, the town of Hawaiian Ocean View looks like a thatched mat of asphalt draped over the side of Mauna Loa volcano. The 102-square-mile grid of crisscrossing streets and vacant lots is nearly twice the size of Washington, D.C., yet is home to fewer than 4,500 residents. You might think that only a pathological optimist would choose to build a house on the parched slope of an active volcano, but over the past two decades, Ocean View has become an international destination for cavers, who have come to explore and map the Kipuka Kanohina, a network of lava caves that course like veins 15 to 80 feet beneath the town."
It also describes "lava caves, widely known as lava tubes," and explains that they "are formed in a geological instant—a year or two, sometimes weeks—by an eruption from the Earth's crust. Most of Hawaiʻi's lava tubes are formed by a type of syrupy flow called pahoehoe. As it pours down the volcano, the lava at the surface is cooled by the air and solidifies, creating an elastic, skinlike outer layer. Beneath this inflating membrane, the lava continues to ooze, eroding the ground beneath it and carving underground tunnels. Now insulated from the air, the hot lava can surge unimpeded, often for many miles. As the eruption subsides and the channels drain their last molten contents, what's left behind is a massive, 3-D funhouse of plumbing.
"Probably no other place on Earth has as many accessible lava tubes as Hawaiʻi, and probably no other town has proved such fertile terrain for their exploration as Ocean View."
The story tells the history of the Bosteds, and Ocean View residents Don and Barb Coons and their Cave Conservancy of Hawaiʻi. It also features Kīlauea Volcano's 40-mile long Kazamura cave and lava tube complex, and Harry Schick who offers cave tours there. Read more here.
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.
NOT GUILTY FOR POACHING AQUARIUM FISH is the plea of Stephen Howard. Laura Ruminski of West Hawaiʻi Today covered his plea proceedings on Wednesday and Thursday last week. The Kona man is accused of illegal aquarium fish collection in waters off South Kona. Collection of aquarium fish is illegal from South Point, up the west Kaʻū Coast through Kona, to Upolo Point in Kohala.
Howard was arrested by Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Conservation & Resource Enforcement on Sept. 15. Ruminski reports he is charged on 251 counts, including 233 counts of prohibited acts, one count for each fish collected. The species he is charged with collecting are yellow tang, manybar goatfish, kole, brown tang, chevron tang, agile chomis, orange band surgeonfish, multiband butterflyfish, forceps fish and ornate wrasse. Retail value of the fish is estimated at more than $17,000, reports Ruminski.
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| Ocean View caver Peter Bosted in Kipuka Kanohina, under the surface of Mauna Loa. Photo from National Geographic |
"Probably no other place on Earth has as many accessible lava tubes as Hawaiʻi, and probably no other town has proved such fertile terrain for their exploration as Ocean View."
The story tells the history of the Bosteds, and Ocean View residents Don and Barb Coons and their Cave Conservancy of Hawaiʻi. It also features Kīlauea Volcano's 40-mile long Kazamura cave and lava tube complex, and Harry Schick who offers cave tours there. Read more here.
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.
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| Yellow tang, extremely popular in the aquarium industry, is one of the fish species Stephen Howard is charged with poaching. |
Howard was arrested by Department of Land and Natural Resources' Division of Conservation & Resource Enforcement on Sept. 15. Ruminski reports he is charged on 251 counts, including 233 counts of prohibited acts, one count for each fish collected. The species he is charged with collecting are yellow tang, manybar goatfish, kole, brown tang, chevron tang, agile chomis, orange band surgeonfish, multiband butterflyfish, forceps fish and ornate wrasse. Retail value of the fish is estimated at more than $17,000, reports Ruminski.
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| Manybar goatfish is one species of fish Stephen Howard is charged with illegally collecting. Photo from reefguide.org |
Howard faces a maximum of three years, thirty days in jail and maximum fines of $502,000, reports Ruminski.
Howard's jury trial will be held April 6, reports Ruminski.
Poaching of reef creatures can be reported to 808-NO-POACH.
Howard's jury trial will be held April 6, reports Ruminski.
Poaching of reef creatures can be reported to 808-NO-POACH.
See more in West Hawaiʻi Today.
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CHRISTY WAGNER OF HILO is selected as Congressman-elect Kai Kahele's Chief of Staff. She currently serves as acting Chief of Staff for Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. Wagner brings more than ten years of Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C. policy experience to Hawaiʻi's 2nd Congressional District Office, which serves Kaʻū, Volcano, and all of rural Hawaiʻi.
Previously, Wagner served as a Legislative Director, Senior Defense and Foreign Policy Advisor, Special Assistant for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs at the Pentagon, and Military Legislative Assistant. She is a graduate of Waiākea High School and is the daughter of former University of Hawaiʻi Head Football Coach, Bob Wagner.
Kahele said, "Christy brings years of public policy, strategic planning and national defense experience to her new position. As I begin my inaugural term in the 117th Congress, I could not be more excited to have Christy take on this new role and put her leadership skills to work for the people of Hawaiʻi. I'm confident that her Hawaiʻi roots and over ten years of Capitol Hill and Washington D.C. policy experience make her the perfect person to help guide our office to serve Hawaiʻi's Second Congressional District with distinction."
Moulton said, "Kai Kahele is going to be a great Member of Congress because he has the judgement and experience to lead. He's already demonstrating this by naming Christy Wagner his Chief of Staff. Christy has made the country safer and stronger in her career advising leaders at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. I will miss having Christy on my team, but I am excited that she gets to shape policy for her home state, Hawaiʻi, and for a new Member of Congress. The people of Hawaiʻi are lucky to have Christy working on their behalf."
Wagner said, "I am honored to have been selected to serve as Congressman-elect Kahele's Chief of Staff and look forward to the opportunity to serve my home state with dignity, pride, and aloha."
An announcement from Kahele's office says he is recruiting candidates for key positions on his Congressional staff in Washington D.C. and in his District Office. Interested persons can apply immediately via the website: kaikahele.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.
FORTY-FOUR THOUSAND HAWAIʻI HIGH-RISK PERSONS COULD BE VACCINATED for COVID-19 as early as December, according to Lt. Gov. Josh Green, MD., interviewed on Spotlight Hawaiʻi, Honolulu Advertiser livestream this week. His comments follow pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Moderna announcing their intent to provide vaccines as early as next month with timely approval of an emergency authorization from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration.
Immunizations would roll out according to the morbidity risk of people and their exposure to the disease. Medical workers and first responders would be high on the list as well as people who are immune compromised and have other ailments that increase their risk of serious complications and death from COVID-19. The vaccination programs could last until summer, wrapping up with young, health people. Each person would receive two shots to complete the program.
The goal is vaccination of 60 to 70 percent of the population to establish herd immunity.
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.
GIVE THANKS, NOT COVID, is the message from Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce. In an email, the group said: "With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we understand this is usually a time of gatherings with friends and family. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly advise against hosting or attending any gatherings with people outside of your household. We must do this to protect each other and our loved ones. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is seeing a significant number of new cases coming from social gatherings – even small ones with close friends and family. We understand this is a tough ask, but we all need to do our part to prevent another spike in cases."
Tips from Chamber of Commerce to more safely celebrate holidays during the pandemic are celebrating only with household members. Celebrate virtually by using digital platforms. Eat holiday foods. Watch holiday movies or TV shows. Play games. If gathering with those outside the household, "try to do it outdoors, limit the number of people, wear face coverings, do not share serving utensils, shorten visit times, and keep everyone apart six feet. Avoid shopping crowds by doing your holiday shopping online. You can support local vendors on sites like Pop-up Makeke, Made in Hawaii Festival or the Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha websites.
"While the cases on the mainland are increasing at an alarming rate, we can all play an important role in reducing Hawaii's COVID case so that businesses can remain open and our hospitals and healthcare workers don't get overwhelmed.
"This year, the best way to show aloha to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers is by not putting them at risk of infection. Thank you for doing your part to prevent the virus from spreading in our community this holiday season."
HURRICANE SEASON ENDS IN NINE DAYS, on Nov. 30, and Kaʻū has experienced no major storm impact so far. The season began June 1. The Pacific Basin saw 16 named storms in 2020 but only four hurricanes. While a few weather disturbances formed and dissipated, only Hurricane Douglas made a close pass to Hawaiʻi, causing minimal effects on Hawaiʻi Island. Douglas came closest to Oʻahu and Kauaʻi.
CHRISTY WAGNER OF HILO is selected as Congressman-elect Kai Kahele's Chief of Staff. She currently serves as acting Chief of Staff for Congressman Seth Moulton of Massachusetts. Wagner brings more than ten years of Capitol Hill and Washington, D.C. policy experience to Hawaiʻi's 2nd Congressional District Office, which serves Kaʻū, Volcano, and all of rural Hawaiʻi.
Previously, Wagner served as a Legislative Director, Senior Defense and Foreign Policy Advisor, Special Assistant for Asian & Pacific Security Affairs at the Pentagon, and Military Legislative Assistant. She is a graduate of Waiākea High School and is the daughter of former University of Hawaiʻi Head Football Coach, Bob Wagner.
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| Christy Wagner will serve as Congressman-elect Kai Kahele's Chief of Staff. Photo from Kahele |
Moulton said, "Kai Kahele is going to be a great Member of Congress because he has the judgement and experience to lead. He's already demonstrating this by naming Christy Wagner his Chief of Staff. Christy has made the country safer and stronger in her career advising leaders at the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill. I will miss having Christy on my team, but I am excited that she gets to shape policy for her home state, Hawaiʻi, and for a new Member of Congress. The people of Hawaiʻi are lucky to have Christy working on their behalf."
Wagner said, "I am honored to have been selected to serve as Congressman-elect Kahele's Chief of Staff and look forward to the opportunity to serve my home state with dignity, pride, and aloha."
An announcement from Kahele's office says he is recruiting candidates for key positions on his Congressional staff in Washington D.C. and in his District Office. Interested persons can apply immediately via the website: kaikahele.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.
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| Those at high risk are first in line to receive the COVID-19 vaccine once it becomes available in Hawaiʻi. |
Immunizations would roll out according to the morbidity risk of people and their exposure to the disease. Medical workers and first responders would be high on the list as well as people who are immune compromised and have other ailments that increase their risk of serious complications and death from COVID-19. The vaccination programs could last until summer, wrapping up with young, health people. Each person would receive two shots to complete the program.
The goal is vaccination of 60 to 70 percent of the population to establish herd immunity.
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.
GIVE THANKS, NOT COVID, is the message from Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce. In an email, the group said: "With Thanksgiving fast approaching, we understand this is usually a time of gatherings with friends and family. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we strongly advise against hosting or attending any gatherings with people outside of your household. We must do this to protect each other and our loved ones. The Hawaiʻi Department of Health is seeing a significant number of new cases coming from social gatherings – even small ones with close friends and family. We understand this is a tough ask, but we all need to do our part to prevent another spike in cases."
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| Hawaiʻi Chamber of Commerce gives advice on celebrating holidays safely during COVID. CoC image |
Tips from Chamber of Commerce to more safely celebrate holidays during the pandemic are celebrating only with household members. Celebrate virtually by using digital platforms. Eat holiday foods. Watch holiday movies or TV shows. Play games. If gathering with those outside the household, "try to do it outdoors, limit the number of people, wear face coverings, do not share serving utensils, shorten visit times, and keep everyone apart six feet. Avoid shopping crowds by doing your holiday shopping online. You can support local vendors on sites like Pop-up Makeke, Made in Hawaii Festival or the Buy Hawaii, Give Aloha websites.
"While the cases on the mainland are increasing at an alarming rate, we can all play an important role in reducing Hawaii's COVID case so that businesses can remain open and our hospitals and healthcare workers don't get overwhelmed.
"This year, the best way to show aloha to our family, friends, neighbors and co-workers is by not putting them at risk of infection. Thank you for doing your part to prevent the virus from spreading in our community this holiday season."
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.
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| Pāʻauʻau Gluch on Aug. 25, 2018. The flooding was attributed to Hurricane Lane. 2020 was an even more quiet year for hurricanes than 2019. Photo by Julia Neal |
Last year, hurricanes Erick and Flossie, in late July and early August, caused some disturbances. Erick caused Hawaiʻi County to close down South Point Road, and Punaluʻu and Whittington Beach Parks, and there was high surf, storm surge, rain and wind. Flossie was a post-tropical cyclone by the time her weather began to affect Kaʻū, but her high surf, winds, and rain were brief.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY is in effect through Monday morning for east-facing shores of Kaʻū and the rest of Hawaiʻi Island. Expect large, breaking waves of six to ten feet, and stronger shore break, and dangerous currents, which could cause injury or death. Beach-goers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Beaches may be closed without notice.
HOW SCIENTISTS MODEL VOLCANO TOPOGRAPHY is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory scientists and affiliates:
How has topography been modeled at Hawaiʻi's volcanoes?
In cartography and geographic analyses related to volcanoes, especially in Hawaiʻi, there is perhaps nothing more important than having an accurate digital model of topography. Such models depict the three-dimensional nature of the land, elucidating features from past eruptions and influencing potential pathways of future activity. But how are these models created?
Modeling topography on active volcanoes is unlike in any other setting, because dramatic changes can occur on timescales far shorter than a human lifetime. For example, in 2018 at Kīlauea, approximately 1 cubic kilometer of rock volume (0.25 cubic miles) was lost at the volcano's summit and deposited on the lower East Rift Zone. So, topographic models can become outdated relatively quickly, and we need to update them accordingly.
Due to the vastness of the areas to be modeled, measuring elevations on the ground using Global Positioning Systems is not feasible, except as a verification of other measurement techniques. Therefore, remote sensing—the measurement of ground features from the air—is preferred.
For many decades, aerial photography was the preferred remote sensing technique that the USGS employed in modeling topography. Overlapping aerial photos taken from slightly different positions along a flight line can be viewed to make the observer think they are seeing a three-dimensional scene rather than a couple two-dimensional images, similar to how the two human eyes sense depth. Using a large and complicated instrument called a stereoplotter, a user could draw outlines of lava flows and lines of equal elevation, or contour lines, on such a projected scene.
Aerial photography began to fall out of favor near the end of the 20th century as new technologies emerged to replace it. As such, the last aerial photography surveys to cover the entire Island of Hawaiʻi were completed in the early 1980s. Years later, the data were compiled into a digital elevation model of the island at 10-meter (yard) resolution, which is still being used today.
However, Kīlauea does not always cooperate with geographers’ desire to maintain current topographic data. When the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption started on Jan. 3, 1983, it marked the onset of 35 years of near-continuous topographic changes at Kīlauea that reached a climax in 2018. Some reasonably successful remote sensing occurred during this time, most notably a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration survey in 2005, but with an ongoing eruption it is inevitable that some of the data will be instantly rendered obsolete.
In the months that followed the 2018 eruption, it became clear that the pause in eruptive activity might be an opportunity to finally update the topography for Kīlauea. Accordingly, a LiDAR survey was planned and completed in July 2019. LiDAR stands for "light detection and ranging"—a laser pulsing instrument was flown over the landscape on a helicopter, with a sensor measuring the return times for each light pulse depending on the distance from instrument to target.
The raw data set that results from a LiDAR survey is a "point cloud." All objects that reflected a light wave are depicted, including vegetation, structures, and the ground. The "first returns" in forested areas often depict the tree canopy, and sometimes these data are useful to environmental scientists, but geologists are most interested in the last or "bare earth" returns.
To make a useful DEM from the point cloud, a filter is applied to exclude all but the bare earth points, then elevation values are calculated from the points for each cell in a grid—most often by averaging. The DEM from the 2019 Kīlauea LiDAR (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9F1ZU8O) has 1-meter (3.28-foot) grid cells with calculated elevations that should be accurate to approximately 10 centimeters (4 inches). The data were verified by comparing with GPS ground control points surveyed in spring 2019.
With a reliable topographic model for Kīlauea now available, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory can merge this data with existing models that still reliably depict other areas to make a new three-dimensional model for all of the Island of Hawaiʻi. The dataset is being used by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the County of Hawai‘i; it will be incorporated into various maps, and enable more accurate projections of lava flow directions from future eruptions.
This data set will be up-to-date until the moment lava starts erupting once more, then the whole process will likely repeat itself. Hawaiian volcanoes have a way of keeping both geologists and geographers on their toes!
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). 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 https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/k-lauea-summit-water-resources.
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 31 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (about 5 miles). Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
There were 5 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.0 earthquake 22 km (13 mi) ENE of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo at 2 km (1 mi) depth on Nov. 18 at 08:21 a.m., a M3.0 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Nov. 16 at 03:31 a.m., a M2.9 earthquake 12 km (7 mi) SSE of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 9:18 p.m., a M3.0 earthquake 11 km (6 mi) SSE of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 3:21 p.m., and a M3.8 earthquake 12 km (7 mi) ESE of Waimea at 6 km (3 mi) depth on Nov. 13 at 09:36 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.
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This time last year, Ocean View Community Center hosted the Kaʻū Art Fair. The event featured hand-crafted and locally produced items by Ka‘ū artists and craftspeople.
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.
Watch Hawaiʻi International Film Festival Online through Sunday, Nov. 29. Tickets for individual screenings as well as all-access passes are available here.
Big Island Giving Tree will have a booth at St. Jude's in Ocean View on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 8:30 a.m. to noon. Available to those in need will be free clothing, linens, shoes, household items, cleaning products, and hygiene products.
Kokua Services will help with virtual appointments through the Certified Assisters above.
Volunteer in the Community urges Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: "You can make Hawaiʻi better with your time. Whether you help pull invasive species from the coastline, pick up rubbish from the beach, deliver food to seniors, or read to keiki, just a couple hours of your time make a huge difference in your community! If you've ever considered volunteering, now is the time your community needs it most." Connect with community partners and get resources on where to volunteer at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/participate.
Free Lifetime Entry for Veterans and Gold Star Families to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks. Free entry applies to national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and other Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior. Learn more details, and how to apply and receive a Gold Star Family voucher, at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm.
New Operating Hours for Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station are Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recycling services available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "White goods" appliance collection services will accept one appliance per resident per day. Customers need to check in with the facility attendant before dropping an appliance off at the facility. No unattended drop-offs allowed. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org website or call 961-8270.
New Operating Hours for Ocean View Transfer Station are Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will continue as usual on Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org website or call 961-8270.
Attend Sunday Drive-In Worship Service at Waiʻōhinu's Kauahaʻao Congregational Church. Parking on the lawn begins at 10 a.m. , with Worship Service starting at 10:10 a.m. Face coverings required when usher comes to vehicle to pass out worship bulletin and other materials, and at the same time, collect any offering or gifts the individual(s) would like to give, or when leaving vehicles for the restroom. Church provides paper fans to stay cool. Bring water. Catch the live-streamed service at 10:10 a.m. and Praise Jam, which runs from 9:15 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. Service is emailed Sunday afternoon to anyone on the email list. Sign up by emailing atdwongyuen.kauahaaochurch@gmail.com or call 928-8039 or 937-2155.
Purchase Stay Home, Cook Rice – A Pandemic Limited Edition cookbook by Hawaiian Electric employees and retirees, their families and friends. Cookbook is $14 and includes more than 160 recipes. Benefits Hawaiʻi Island's United Way chapter partners, which includes Boys & Girls Club Big Island. Find order form here, call 543-4601 on weekdays from 8 a.m to 3 p.m., or email karen.garcia@hawaiianelectric.com. Cookbooks can only be mailed within the U.S. USPS Priority Mail rates will be applied. Delays may be due to the pandemic.
Ocean View Swap Meet 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.
Volcano Art Center Volcano Village
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Food Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
Apply for Holomua Hawaiʻi Relief Grants for small businesses and nonprofits of up to $10,000 to support core operations, safe on-going and reopening costs, personal protective equipment, and training and technical assistance. The business or nonprofit must employ 50 people or fewer. See the program website.
Invite Park Rangers to Virtually Visit Classes, through connecting with teachers and home-schoolers with distance learning programs and virtual huakaʻi (field trips). Contact havo_education@nps.gov.
Attend Weekly Virtual Town Meetings, hosted by Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary, on Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Discussion topics include attendance, best practices, Grab-n-Go meals, school updates, questions and feedback, and more. Go to KHPES website for Live WebEx link.
Register for Boys & Girls Club Mobile Outreach and Tutoring Programs here. Registration does not guarantee a spot in the program. A staff member will reach out to eligible families for keiki grades 1-6, to complete the registration process. Questions? Contact Boys & Girls Club of the Big Island Administrative Office, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., at (808) 961-5536 or email mobiletutoring@bgcbi.org or info@bgcbi.org.
HEALTH
Appointments for free Veterinary Care or Spay & Neutering can be scheduled by visiting hihs.org and clicking on the Services Tab, then selecting Spay and Neuter or Community Vet Care, or by emailing petsupport@hihs.org or calling 808-217-0154. All appointments must be scheduled in advance and are open to healthy owned dogs and cats only. Two pets per family will be accommodated. Each pet must have its own appointment. Animals other than dogs and cats, unhealthy animals, or those with contagious illnesses will not be accepted.
Guided Nature Walks through Nature Trail & Sculpture Garden, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. No reservations for five or fewer – limited to ten people. Free; donations appreciated. Email programs@volcanoartcenter.org. Garden is open to walk through at one's own pace, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays. Free. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Sign Up for Two Women's Health Programs from Kaʻū Women's Collective. Piko focuses on reproductive health; increasing access, respect, cultural competence, education, and choice. Pilina aims to grow membership and establish a culture of collaborative decision-making. Meetings held Sundays on Oct. 11, Nov. 8, and Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. Follow @kau_womens_health_collective. Contact rootsmedieshawaii@gmail.com. Call 808-450-0498.
Report Humpback Whales in Trouble is the reminder from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale and National Marine Sanctuary: "If you spot a humpback whale in trouble (entangled, being harassed etc.) please call the NOAA Fisheries 24 hour hotline at 1-888-256-984. The line also works for reports for sea turtles, monk seals and dolphins."
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Native Hawaiian Farmers and Ranchers urged to use U.S. Dept. of Ag On-Farm Market Directory. Visit the program website.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
Neither Erick nor Flossie came close to causing the kind of damages wrought by Hurricane Lane in 2018.
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.
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.
HIGH SURF ADVISORY is in effect through Monday morning for east-facing shores of Kaʻū and the rest of Hawaiʻi Island. Expect large, breaking waves of six to ten feet, and stronger shore break, and dangerous currents, which could cause injury or death. Beach-goers, swimmers, and surfers should heed all advice given by ocean safety officials and exercise caution. Beaches may be closed without notice.
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.
LEARN HOW TO NAVIGATE AGRIBUSINESS IN HAWAIʻI in virtual session Monday, Nov. 23 and 30, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Presented by GoFarm Hawaiʻi, The Kohala Center, and the City & County of Honolulu Coronavirus Relief Fund, and administered by the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation, certified public accountant Ann Chiodini will address business startup and general excise taxes. The second session will focus on Schedule F preparation and record-keeping practices for annual income tax returns. There is no cost to attend and registration is required in advance. Register online.
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.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND AVERAGED TEN NEW COVID CASES PER DAY over the last 14 days. Hawaiʻi Island reports 15 new COVID cases today. There are seven people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
New cases reported statewide today total 163, with 123 on Oʻahu, 12 on Maui, four on Kauaʻi, and nine residents diagnosed out-of-state. The average daily case rate for the state is 92 over the last two weeks.
Since the pandemic began, 49 deaths have been reported on Hawaiʻi Island. At least 224 people have died in the state, according to state records, one reported today.
Since the pandemic began, there have been 17,098 total COVID cases in the state. Oʻahu has reported 14,698 total cases, Hawaiʻi 1,527, Maui 480, Lanaʻi 106, Molokaʻi 17, and Kauaʻi 91. Residents diagnosed while out-of-state, 179. Statewide, 1,239 people have been hospitalized since the pandemic began.
No new cases have been reported in the last 14 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96777. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96704, which includes Miloliʻi, and zip code 96772, which includes Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour.
In the last 14 days, 12 cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737, 16 in Hilo zip code 96720, 55 in Kona zip code 96740, and 12 in zip code 96738 – which includes Waikoloa Village and Puako.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 12,085,389 – about 20.8 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 255,823 – about 18.5 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 58 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,379,508.
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.
HAWAIʻI ISLAND AVERAGED TEN NEW COVID CASES PER DAY over the last 14 days. Hawaiʻi Island reports 15 new COVID cases today. There are seven people hospitalized on Hawaiʻi Island with the virus.
New cases reported statewide today total 163, with 123 on Oʻahu, 12 on Maui, four on Kauaʻi, and nine residents diagnosed out-of-state. The average daily case rate for the state is 92 over the last two weeks.
Since the pandemic began, 49 deaths have been reported on Hawaiʻi Island. At least 224 people have died in the state, according to state records, one reported today.
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Onset of COVID-19 cases in the last 14
days, by zip code. Gray areas have populations less than 1,000. White is zero cases.
Yellow is one to 10 cases. Light
orange is 11-50 cases. Dark orange is 51-200 cases. Department of
Health map |
No new cases have been reported in the last 14 days for Volcano zip codes 96785 and 96718, and Kaʻū zip code 96777. In the last 28 days, less than ten active cases have been reported in zip code 96704, which includes Miloliʻi, and zip code 96772, which includes Nāʻālehu, Waiʻōhinu, and Discovery Harbour.
In the last 14 days, 12 cases have been reported in Kaʻū zip code 96737, 16 in Hilo zip code 96720, 55 in Kona zip code 96740, and 12 in zip code 96738 – which includes Waikoloa Village and Puako.
See the Hawaiʻi County COVID-19 webpage. Report violators of COVID-19 safety protocols or quarantine to non-emergency at 935-3311. Hawaiʻi Island police continue enforcement of preventative policies.
COVID-19 case count in the U.S. is more than 12,085,389 – about 20.8 percent of worldwide cases. The death toll is more than 255,823 – about 18.5 percent of worldwide deaths. Worldwide, there are more than 58 million COVID-19 cases. The death toll is more than 1,379,508.
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.
HOW SCIENTISTS MODEL VOLCANO TOPOGRAPHY is the focus of this week's Volcano Watch, written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory scientists and affiliates:
How has topography been modeled at Hawaiʻi's volcanoes?
In cartography and geographic analyses related to volcanoes, especially in Hawaiʻi, there is perhaps nothing more important than having an accurate digital model of topography. Such models depict the three-dimensional nature of the land, elucidating features from past eruptions and influencing potential pathways of future activity. But how are these models created?
Modeling topography on active volcanoes is unlike in any other setting, because dramatic changes can occur on timescales far shorter than a human lifetime. For example, in 2018 at Kīlauea, approximately 1 cubic kilometer of rock volume (0.25 cubic miles) was lost at the volcano's summit and deposited on the lower East Rift Zone. So, topographic models can become outdated relatively quickly, and we need to update them accordingly.
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A sample of the digital elevation model from the 2019 LiDAR survey of Kīlauea, showing the vicinity of the former HVO office and Jaggar Museum in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. The buildings have been digitally "flattened" because the instrument's light pulses are not able to penetrate structures; this flattening approximates the "bare earth" ground surface below the buildings. Otherwise, LiDAR data captures minute details, such as the elevated curbs in the parking area. USGS image |
Due to the vastness of the areas to be modeled, measuring elevations on the ground using Global Positioning Systems is not feasible, except as a verification of other measurement techniques. Therefore, remote sensing—the measurement of ground features from the air—is preferred.
For many decades, aerial photography was the preferred remote sensing technique that the USGS employed in modeling topography. Overlapping aerial photos taken from slightly different positions along a flight line can be viewed to make the observer think they are seeing a three-dimensional scene rather than a couple two-dimensional images, similar to how the two human eyes sense depth. Using a large and complicated instrument called a stereoplotter, a user could draw outlines of lava flows and lines of equal elevation, or contour lines, on such a projected scene.
Aerial photography began to fall out of favor near the end of the 20th century as new technologies emerged to replace it. As such, the last aerial photography surveys to cover the entire Island of Hawaiʻi were completed in the early 1980s. Years later, the data were compiled into a digital elevation model of the island at 10-meter (yard) resolution, which is still being used today.
However, Kīlauea does not always cooperate with geographers’ desire to maintain current topographic data. When the Puʻu ʻŌʻō eruption started on Jan. 3, 1983, it marked the onset of 35 years of near-continuous topographic changes at Kīlauea that reached a climax in 2018. Some reasonably successful remote sensing occurred during this time, most notably a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration survey in 2005, but with an ongoing eruption it is inevitable that some of the data will be instantly rendered obsolete.
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| LiDAR shows massive changes that occured at Kīlauea's summit in just 12 days, during the 2018 eruption. USGS images |
In the months that followed the 2018 eruption, it became clear that the pause in eruptive activity might be an opportunity to finally update the topography for Kīlauea. Accordingly, a LiDAR survey was planned and completed in July 2019. LiDAR stands for "light detection and ranging"—a laser pulsing instrument was flown over the landscape on a helicopter, with a sensor measuring the return times for each light pulse depending on the distance from instrument to target.
The raw data set that results from a LiDAR survey is a "point cloud." All objects that reflected a light wave are depicted, including vegetation, structures, and the ground. The "first returns" in forested areas often depict the tree canopy, and sometimes these data are useful to environmental scientists, but geologists are most interested in the last or "bare earth" returns.
To make a useful DEM from the point cloud, a filter is applied to exclude all but the bare earth points, then elevation values are calculated from the points for each cell in a grid—most often by averaging. The DEM from the 2019 Kīlauea LiDAR (https://doi.org/10.5066/P9F1ZU8O) has 1-meter (3.28-foot) grid cells with calculated elevations that should be accurate to approximately 10 centimeters (4 inches). The data were verified by comparing with GPS ground control points surveyed in spring 2019.
With a reliable topographic model for Kīlauea now available, the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory can merge this data with existing models that still reliably depict other areas to make a new three-dimensional model for all of the Island of Hawaiʻi. The dataset is being used by Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park and the County of Hawai‘i; it will be incorporated into various maps, and enable more accurate projections of lava flow directions from future eruptions.
This data set will be up-to-date until the moment lava starts erupting once more, then the whole process will likely repeat itself. Hawaiian volcanoes have a way of keeping both geologists and geographers on their toes!
Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://www.usgs.gov/natural-hazards/volcano-hazards/about-alert-levels). 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 https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/k-lauea-summit-water-resources.
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| Halemaʻumaʻu Crater today, with the large, hot water pond. USGS image |
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 31 small-magnitude earthquakes were recorded beneath the upper-elevations of Mauna Loa; most of these occurred at shallow depths of less than 8 kilometers (about 5 miles). Global Positioning System (GPS) measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures as measured at both Sulphur Cone and the summit remain stable. Webcams show no changes to the landscape. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna-loa/monitoring.
There were 5 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.0 earthquake 22 km (13 mi) ENE of Hōnaunau-Nāpōʻopoʻo at 2 km (1 mi) depth on Nov. 18 at 08:21 a.m., a M3.0 earthquake 9 km (5 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 31 km (19 mi) depth on Nov. 16 at 03:31 a.m., a M2.9 earthquake 12 km (7 mi) SSE of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 9:18 p.m., a M3.0 earthquake 11 km (6 mi) SSE of Fern Forest at 7 km (4 mi) depth on Nov. 15 at 3:21 p.m., and a M3.8 earthquake 12 km (7 mi) ESE of Waimea at 6 km (3 mi) depth on Nov. 13 at 09:36 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.
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At last year's Kaʻū Art Fair, Suzanne Dix Kaliko unveiled Waiʻōhinu Aunty. Photo by Annie Bosted |
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
Fiber Artist Susan O'Malley presented a piece entitled Kanapuaʻa, named for the Hawaiian demi-god that changes shapes. She used the fibers from ginger, banana, and wauke – related to the fig, it's the principle plant used in the making of kapa, or tapa cloth.
O'Malley, who is also a papermaker and a vegetable dyer, told The Kaʻū Calendar that her style is different from most tapa cloth makers, in that while the makers of the cloth avoid tears and holes, she uses them for artistic effect. "I can use their scraps", she explained. O'Malley, who lives in Ocean View, is a retired first-grade teaching veteran of 37 years.
Suzanne Dix Kaliko presented Waiʻōhinu Aunty, a canvas that was inspired by a musician at the Hula Festival in 2003. At the time, she was in the audience and sketched the ʻukuele player. Working from her sketch, she was able to produce the piece, which was offered for sale at the show.
A founding member of Ocean View's famous handcrafting group, the Knitwits, Robyn Stratton displayed hand-woven cotton tea towels and a mandala sweater. The Knitwits are a group of women who meet create crafts by knitting, sewing, or weaving. Their huge variety of hand-made offerings – which includes blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, and children's clothing – are sold to raise money for the Kaʻū Foodbank.
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Fiber Artist Susan O'Malley presented a piece entitled Kanapuaʻa at last year's Kaʻū Art Fair. Photo by Annie Bosted |
Suzanne Dix Kaliko presented Waiʻōhinu Aunty, a canvas that was inspired by a musician at the Hula Festival in 2003. At the time, she was in the audience and sketched the ʻukuele player. Working from her sketch, she was able to produce the piece, which was offered for sale at the show.
A founding member of Ocean View's famous handcrafting group, the Knitwits, Robyn Stratton displayed hand-woven cotton tea towels and a mandala sweater. The Knitwits are a group of women who meet create crafts by knitting, sewing, or weaving. Their huge variety of hand-made offerings – which includes blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, and children's clothing – are sold to raise money for the Kaʻū Foodbank.
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Ocean View's handcrafting group Knitwits gave proceeds from last year's Kaʻū Art Fair to Kaʻū Foodbank. Photo by Annie Bosted |
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Read online at kaucalendar.com. See our Fresh Food on The Kaʻū Calendar directory for 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. |
Daily, weekly, and monthly recurring Kaʻū and Volcano Events, Meetings, Entertainment, Exercise, Meditation, and more are listed at kaucalendar.com.
EVENTS
Enter Hawaiʻi County Youth Recipe & Video Contest, Ono-licious, through Monday, Nov. 23. Open to three age groups: grades 5-8, high school, and youth under 25. Organized by USDA Farm-to-School, submissions should be nutritious, easy-to-make recipes that feature locally grown, raised or caught products. Learn more and submit recipes at tinyurl.com/Onolicious2021. Questions? Email mingwei@c4gts.org.
Free Drive-Thru COVID Testing, no co-pay and no insurance necessary to be tested, but bring insurance card if have. People do not have to have symptoms in order to be tested. Face coverings and social distancing required at all times. Call Civil Defense at 935-0031 for more. Testing location for Monday, Nov. 23 is Keauhou Shopping Center, 9 a.m. to noon.
Small Businesses and Nonprofits can Apply for Reimbursement Grants through the Business Pivot Program to cover expenses up to $10,000 that they incurred implementing changes to their operations, products, and services. Grant application open until Monday, Nov. 23, as funds are available. Click here for eligibility requirements and to apply. Click here for frequently asked questions.
Kaʻū Food Pantry Free Food Distribution, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the upper parking lot of the Kahuku County Park, in Ocean View on Paradise Circle. Organizer Allan Humble of Kaʻū Food Pantry said he thanks Food Basket of Kona for sponsoring food.
Kaʻū Food Pantry Free Food Distribution, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 9 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. in the upper parking lot of the Kahuku County Park, in Ocean View on Paradise Circle. Organizer Allan Humble of Kaʻū Food Pantry said he thanks Food Basket of Kona for sponsoring food.
Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner Fundraiser for Kaʻū Hospital Charitable Foundation will be held Wednesday, Nov. 25, noon to 4 p.m. and Thursday, Nov. 26, noon to 2 p.m. Drive-thru pickup at lanai gate at the hospital parking lot. Each plate is $10 and includes turkey, dressing (stuffing), mashed potatoes, gravy, veggies, and pumpkin pie. Tickets are available through Tuesday, Nov. 24 at 4:30 p.m., cash or check, in the business office or clinic reception. Questions? Contact Jennifer Grace at 808-932-4372.
Holiday Open House at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village, Friday, Nov. 27, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Enjoy viewing of handmade wreaths, cider, music, door prizes, and gifts. volcanoartcenter.org, 967-8222
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| Purchase tickets through Tuesday, Nov. 24. |
Get Books Into the Hands of Keiki at the Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Virtual Book Fair, through Nov. 29. This link, https://www.scholastic.com/bf/volcanoschoolofartssci, is for VSAS and will allow all purchases through this site to be credited towards VSAS's fundraiser. In addition, teachers will set up individual ʻeWalletʻ accounts for teacher wishlist funds: The eWallet allows parents, guardians, and community members to donate funds (not books) from which teachers can purchase books. There is free shipping on book purchases over $25.
Watch Hawaiʻi International Film Festival Online through Sunday, Nov. 29. Tickets for individual screenings as well as all-access passes are available here.
Volcano Garden Arts' Think X-Mas! Exquisite Gift Sale, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, Nov. 27, 28, and 29 features special plate lunch at Cafe Ono. Held at 19-3834 Old Volcano Rd. See ShopVGA.net, CafeOno.net, and VolcanoGardenArts.com.
Volcano Village Art Hui: Creative Adaptations 2020 34th Annual Studio Tour & Sale, adapted to fit pandemic circumstances, will be held over Thanksgiving weekend – Nov. 27-29, Friday through Sunday. Participating artists will offer various ways to acquire art using safety guidelines, including online orders, scheduled appointments, and/or modified on-site studio tours. Many artists will continue these opportunities throughout December and beyond. See VolcanoVillageArtistsHui.com or Instagram: @VolcanoArtHui for updates and individual artists' contact information.
Hawaiian Islands Challenge Virtual Run through Dec. 31. Registration closes Nov. 30. Individuals or teams can register to traverse some or all of 808 kilometers on six different courses, one on each main island. Register here.
Renew or Apply for Membership in Experience Volcano Hawaiʻi for $20 until Nov. 30. Details available at experiencevolcano.com/2020special. Membership offers perks such as free 25-word classified ads in the newsletter. Buy, sell, trade or donate. Members can send ads to experiencevolcano@gmail.com. Deadline is the 15th of the month. Ads will publish until canceled. No artwork or logos allowed.
Give Input on Cleaning up the Former Quarry Firing Range in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Engineering evaluation and cost analysis will address surface soils impacted with heavy metals. The EE/CA document is available through Dec. 1. Executive Summary of the EE/CA and the Community Involvement Plan are available online at parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkId=307&projectID=92898. View them in person, by appointment only – call 808-985-6073 – at Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park Headquarters Building, 1 Crater Rim Drive, in the Park, weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Electronically submit comments via the website above or writing to Ms. Danielle Foster at danielle_foster@nps.gov or Environmental Protection Specialist, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, P.O. Box 52, Hawaiʻi National Park, HI 96718.
Apply or Donate to Full Calabash Fund to support vulnerable Hawaiʻi families and food producers impacted by the pandemic through The Kohala Center. Organizations and foundations can donate to the Full Calabash Fund through Dec. 31 by contacting Nicole Milne, The Kohala Center's vice president of food and agriculture initiatives, at (808) 987-9210 or nmilne@kohalacenter.org. Nonprofit organizations and meal preparation services can apply for grants through Tuesday, Dec. 8 at 5 p.m. online at koha.la/calabash or by calling 808-887-6411.
Receive Help Signing Up for Med-Quest Health Insurance via nonprofit organizations starting Sunday through Dec. 15. Local contacts through the community organization Kalanihale include Kaʻimi Kaupilo, of Miloliʻi, who can be reached at 808-937-1310 and Donna Kekoa, of Pāhala, at 808-769-1334.
The state's Med-Quest provides eligible low-income adults and children access to health and medical coverage through managed care plans.
Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA helps through Shon Araujo at 808-854-0152 and Carrie Fernandez at 808-854-0256. West Hawaiʻi Community Center assists through Beonka Snyder at 808-327-0803, Tina Evans at 808-640-8587, Charles Kelen at 808-491-9761, and Walter Lanw at 808-785-8201. Hawaiʻi Island HIV/AIDS Foundation helps through Rachelle Hanohano at 808-896-5051, Paul Thome at 858-876-5154, Melani Matsumoto at 808-854-1877, and Jennifer Reno-Medeiros at 808-333-6443.
Island of Hawaiʻi YMCA helps through Shon Araujo at 808-854-0152 and Carrie Fernandez at 808-854-0256. West Hawaiʻi Community Center assists through Beonka Snyder at 808-327-0803, Tina Evans at 808-640-8587, Charles Kelen at 808-491-9761, and Walter Lanw at 808-785-8201. Hawaiʻi Island HIV/AIDS Foundation helps through Rachelle Hanohano at 808-896-5051, Paul Thome at 858-876-5154, Melani Matsumoto at 808-854-1877, and Jennifer Reno-Medeiros at 808-333-6443.
Kokua Services will help with virtual appointments through the Certified Assisters above.Hawaiʻi Wildlife Fund Public Cleanup Event Saturday, Dec. 19. Group size limited due to COVID-19 precautions and government proclamations. Contact Megan Lamson-Leatherman at (808) 280-8124 or wild@aloha.net.
Homeowners, Apply for Affordable Rental Housing Tax Reduction through Dec. 31. Application, requirements and benefits are at hawaiipropertytax.com/misc.html or call the county Real Property Tax office at 961-8201 or 323-4880.
Christmas in the Country 21st Annual Wreath Exhibition runsthrough Thursday, Dec. 31 at Volcano Art Center Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. See volcanoartcenter.org, call 967-8222.
ONGOING
COMMUNITY
Support Volcano Emergency Response Team's Efforts to supply a newly-developed plan to manage potential disasters in the community of Volcano until other assistance arrives. In order to address these disasters quickly and efficiently, such as hurricanes, COVID-19, and volcanic issues, supplies and equipment are needed to assist the Volcano community in the event a disaster. VERP has set up a GoFundMe website to address these needs and would be "extremely grateful" for any contribution in any amount. See gofundme.com/volcano-emergency-response-plan or the VERP page at thecoopercenter.org.
ONGOING
COMMUNITY
Support Volcano Emergency Response Team's Efforts to supply a newly-developed plan to manage potential disasters in the community of Volcano until other assistance arrives. In order to address these disasters quickly and efficiently, such as hurricanes, COVID-19, and volcanic issues, supplies and equipment are needed to assist the Volcano community in the event a disaster. VERP has set up a GoFundMe website to address these needs and would be "extremely grateful" for any contribution in any amount. See gofundme.com/volcano-emergency-response-plan or the VERP page at thecoopercenter.org.
Volunteer in the Community urges Hawaiʻi Community Foundation: "You can make Hawaiʻi better with your time. Whether you help pull invasive species from the coastline, pick up rubbish from the beach, deliver food to seniors, or read to keiki, just a couple hours of your time make a huge difference in your community! If you've ever considered volunteering, now is the time your community needs it most." Connect with community partners and get resources on where to volunteer at hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/participate.Free Lifetime Entry for Veterans and Gold Star Families to Hawaiʻi Volcanoes and other national parks. Free entry applies to national parks, wildlife refuges, forests, and other Federal lands managed by the Department of the Interior. Learn more details, and how to apply and receive a Gold Star Family voucher, at https://www.nps.gov/planyourvisit/veterans-and-gold-star-families-free-access.htm.
New Operating Hours for Wai‘ōhinu Transfer Station are Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Recycling services available 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. "White goods" appliance collection services will accept one appliance per resident per day. Customers need to check in with the facility attendant before dropping an appliance off at the facility. No unattended drop-offs allowed. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org website or call 961-8270.
New Operating Hours for Ocean View Transfer Station are Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. HI-5 deposit beverage container collection will continue as usual on Saturdays only, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visit hawaiizerowaste.org website or call 961-8270.
Sign Up for Solid Waste Operations Alerts here for site closures, availability of services, hours of operation, special conditions affecting solid waste service (such as road closures, flooding, fires), or special events, such as household hazardous waste collections.
COVID-19 Talk Story on Nā Leo TV series aims to help deliver accurate and current information to Hawaiʻi Island residents. Airs live Thursdays at 10 a.m. on Spectrum Channel 53, online at naleo.tv/channel-53/, streaming on Nā Leo's free mobile app, and on-demand at naleo.tv/covid19.
Nominate Businesses that Provide Excellent COVID-19 Safety Precautions for a Gold Star. Submit nominations to County of Hawaiʻi Department of Research and Development here. Find help for small businesses here.
St. Jude's Episcopal Church services and worship are posted online at stjudeshawaii.org. Join the Aloha Hour via Zoom at 11 a.m. on Sundays, here, Meeting ID: 684 344 9828, Password: Aloha. Weekly hot meals, hot showers, the computer lab, and in-person services and bible studies are suspended.
Purchase Stay Home, Cook Rice – A Pandemic Limited Edition cookbook by Hawaiian Electric employees and retirees, their families and friends. Cookbook is $14 and includes more than 160 recipes. Benefits Hawaiʻi Island's United Way chapter partners, which includes Boys & Girls Club Big Island. Find order form here, call 543-4601 on weekdays from 8 a.m to 3 p.m., or email karen.garcia@hawaiianelectric.com. Cookbooks can only be mailed within the U.S. USPS Priority Mail rates will be applied. Delays may be due to the pandemic.
Ocean View Community Market, open Saturdays and Wednesdays, 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. , on the corner of Kona Drive and Highway 11, where Thai Grindz is located. Managed by Mark Cocucci. Masks mandatory. 100-person limit, social distancing required. Gate unlocked for vendors at 5:30 a.m., $15 dollars, no reservations needed. Parking in upper lot only. Vendors must provide own sanitizer. Food vendor permits required. Carpooling encouraged.
ʻO Kaʻū Kākou Market, in Nāʻālehu, open Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday, 8 a.m. to noon . Limit of 50 customers, 25 vendor booths, with 30 feet of space between vendors. Masks and hand sanitizing are required, social distancing enforced. Contact Sue Barnett, OKK Market Manager, at 808-345-9374 (voice or text) or kaufarmer@aol.com for more and to apply to vend. facebook.com/OKauKakouMarket
Volcano Farmers Market, Cooper Center, Volcano Village, open on Sundays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m., with much local produce, island beef, and prepared foods. Cooper Center
Resources for LGBTQ+, Loved Ones, and Allies at Sexual and Gender Minority online resource hub, Hawaiʻi Department of Health's first website dedicated to LGBTQ+ resources. For more information on joining the SGM Workgroup, email Thaddeus Pham at thaddeus.pham@doh.hawaii.gov. See health.hawaii.gov.
Read Report on Public Input about Disaster Recovery from damage during the 2018 Kīlauea eruption. View the Civic Engagement and Comment Analysis Report here.
Watch Hawaiʻi's 28th Annual Filipino Fiesta and 8th Flores de Mayo virtual celebration here, hosted by the Filipino Community Center, at filcom.org/center/hawaiis-annual-filipino-fiesta.
FREE FOOD
Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally-owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net to apply. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.
Bulk School Meal Service for those 18 and under will be held at Volcano and Pāhala on alternating weeks. Friday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up food at Kaʻū District Gym. Friday, Dec. 11, pick up food at The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani Campus located at 19-4024 Haunani Road in Volcano. No service on Friday, Nov. 27. The program runs through June 30, 2021. Pick up food items such as eggs, cereal, dry pasta, rice, beans, tortillas, milk, and canned vegetables and fruit. As the program grows, a variety of fresh products like meats, fruits and vegetables may be on offer. Each distribution will provide enough food for every person 18 years and under to eat breakfast and lunch. No income requirements to participate. Youth do not need to be present to receive bags but be prepared to give their names and birthdates. See https://www.volcanoschool.net/ or call 808-985-9901.
Apply for The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences COVID-19 Family Relief Funds. Funded by Volcano Community Association, and members of the VSAS Friends and Governing Boards, who have donated, the fund supplies KTA or Dimple Cheek Gift Cards, or gift cards to other locally-owned business, to VSAS families in need. Contact Kim Miller at 985-8537, kmiller@volcanoschool.net to apply. Contributions to the fund can be sent in by check to: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785 – write Relief Fund in the memo. See volcanoschool.net.
Bulk School Meal Service for those 18 and under will be held at Volcano and Pāhala on alternating weeks. Friday, Dec. 4, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., pick up food at Kaʻū District Gym. Friday, Dec. 11, pick up food at The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Keakealani Campus located at 19-4024 Haunani Road in Volcano. No service on Friday, Nov. 27. The program runs through June 30, 2021. Pick up food items such as eggs, cereal, dry pasta, rice, beans, tortillas, milk, and canned vegetables and fruit. As the program grows, a variety of fresh products like meats, fruits and vegetables may be on offer. Each distribution will provide enough food for every person 18 years and under to eat breakfast and lunch. No income requirements to participate. Youth do not need to be present to receive bags but be prepared to give their names and birthdates. See https://www.volcanoschool.net/ or call 808-985-9901.
One-Time Emergency Food For Pets is available through KARES. Call David or Barbara Breskin at 319-8333.
Food Pickup through Hope DIA-mend Ministries, weekdays, 5 p.m. in the Ace parking lot in Ocean View and lunches on Mondays. In Nāʻālehu, meals distributed in front of old Nāʻālehu Theatre at 4 p.m.
Emergency Boxes Available at Cooper Center Tuesday through Saturday 8 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. Call ahead, 967-7800.
FINANCES
Apply for Utility Assistance, to pay for electricity, non-government water, or gas. Applicants must be a Hawaiʻi Island resident, at least 18 years old, lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, and not previously received assistance from other COVID-19 federal or state-funded programs. Funded by CARES Act and distributed by Hawaiʻi County Economic Opportunity Council, required documents for application are government-issued identification, income verification documents for all household members, utility statement with address of services, lease/rental agreement or mortgage document, and proof of hardship. Hardship may include, but not limited to, pay stubs documenting pre-COVID-19 income, unemployment approval letter, or layoff letter. Apply at HCEOC.net or call 808-961-2681.Apply for Expanded Hawaiʻi County Rent and Mortgage Assistance Program. RMAP partners encourage Hawaiʻi Island residents who are at least 18 years old and lost income or work hours due to COVID-19, including quitting or reduced hours to provide childcare, may be eligible for up to $2,000 per month for rent, lease, or mortgage payments. Payments made directly to landlords, property managers, or mortgage lenders. Approved applicants also have access to financial counseling services.
RMAP nonprofit partners are Hawaiian Community Assets/Hawaiʻi Community Lending, HawaiianCommunity.net, 808-934-0801; HOPE Services Hawaiʻi, hopeserviceshawaii.org/rmap, 808-935-3050; Hawai‘i First Federal Credit Union, hawaiifirstfcu.com/pathways, 808-933-6600; Neighborhood Place of Puna, neighborhoodplaceofpuna.org/coronavirus-rent-mortgage-relief, 808-965-5550; Hawai‘i Island Home for Recovery, hihrecovery.org/RMAP, 808-640-4443 or 808-934-7852; Habitat for Humanity Hawai‘i Island, habitathawaiiisland.org/rmap.html, 808-450-2118.
Receive Help Over the Phone with Critical Financial Issues, through Cities for Financial Empowerment Fund Financial Navigators from County of Hawaiʻi, in partnership with Hawaiʻi First Federal Credit Union. Complete webform here or call 808-933-6600. Contact Sharon Hirota at 808-961-8019 with questions.
Marketing Assistance, for small businesses affected by COVID-19, from Univeristy of Hawaiʻi-Hilo faculty and their senior class at https://bit.ly/2YvFxsl.
EDUCATION
Purchase The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Fundraising calendars, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Preview the calendar here. Order the Calendar using this form. Send payment or donations to VSAS PayPal. Order school t-shirts and sweatshirts via order forms with payment to the main office: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785. For a printed copy of the order form to be mailed, contact Kaye at 985-9800, knagamine@volcanoschool.net. Contact Kanani at kwylie@volcanoschool.net for more information and assistance with ordering.
Purchase The Volcano School of Arts & Sciences Fundraising calendars, t-shirts, and sweatshirts. Preview the calendar here. Order the Calendar using this form. Send payment or donations to VSAS PayPal. Order school t-shirts and sweatshirts via order forms with payment to the main office: VSAS, PO Box 845, Volcano, HI 96785. For a printed copy of the order form to be mailed, contact Kaye at 985-9800, knagamine@volcanoschool.net. Contact Kanani at kwylie@volcanoschool.net for more information and assistance with ordering.
Free WiFi Access for Students is available in Pāhala, Nāʻālehu, and Ocean View through Kaʻū High & Pāhala Elementary.
In Pāhala, access is limited to ten students at a time at the school gym on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Support is provided by Joshua Ortega.
In Nāʻālehu, access is limited to 12 students at a time at Nāʻālehu Assembly of God on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind.
In Ocean View, access is limited to five students at a time at Ocean View Community Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Support is provided by Crystal Mandaquit. No restrooms available at this location.
Kaʻū Mobile Learning Hub at St. Jude's lower parking lot is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Instruction and support are provided by Carla Lind, Arianrhod VanNewkirk, Heather Naboa, Marcia Masters, and Breeann Ebanez.
All students and staff must wear a mask at all times and follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Each student must bring their device, school materials, and a water bottle. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.
In Pāhala, access is limited to ten students at a time at the school gym on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Support is provided by Joshua Ortega.
In Nāʻālehu, access is limited to 12 students at a time at Nāʻālehu Assembly of God on Thursdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Support is provided by Carla Lind.
In Ocean View, access is limited to five students at a time at Ocean View Community Center on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Support is provided by Crystal Mandaquit. No restrooms available at this location.
Kaʻū Mobile Learning Hub at St. Jude's lower parking lot is available weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Instruction and support are provided by Carla Lind, Arianrhod VanNewkirk, Heather Naboa, Marcia Masters, and Breeann Ebanez.
All students and staff must wear a mask at all times and follow all COVID-19 guidelines. Each student must bring their device, school materials, and a water bottle. Questions? See khpes.org or call 313-4100.
Student Athletes of Kaʻū High interested in participating in athletics during the 2020-2021 school year are encouraged to call Athletic Director Kalei Namohala at 313-4161 to sign up for the Student Athlete Google Classroom.
Resilience Hub at Nāʻālehu Hongwanji, Monday-Wednesday-Friday, noon to 4 p.m. Drop-in wifi and laptop access, free meals for participating keiki. Follows all county, state, and federal COVID-19 guidelines. Contact Michelle Galimba, 808-430-4927.
ʻOhana Help Desk offers online How-To Guides fo
Pāhala and Nāʻālehu Public Libraries, open for wifi, pick-up, and other services. Nāʻālehu open Monday and Wednesday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Friday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Pāhala open Tuesday, noon to 7 p.m., Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Schedule a Library Take Out time at picktime.com/hspls. Open for library card account help and reference assistance from the front door. Wifi available to anyone with a library card from each library parking lot. librarieshawaii.org
Free Book Exchanges, at laundromats in Ocean View and Nāʻālehu, provided by Friends of the Kaʻū Libraries. Open to all. Keep the books, pass them on to other readers, or return them. Selection of books replenished weekly at both sites.
Free Job Training for workers displaced by COVID-19 is launched by the state for up to 650 workers. Programs offer on-the-job training through Dec. 15, with wages starting at $13 to $15 an hour, health care benefits, and mentoring. Two different tracks in innovation or conservation sectors. See dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/20-21/.
Virtual Workshops on Hawaiʻi's Legislative Processes through Public Access Room. Sign up by contacting (808) 587-0478 or par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Ask questions and discuss all things legislative in a non-partisan environment. Attend Coffee Hour with PAR: Fridays at 3 p.m. on Zoom, meeting ID 990 4865 9652 or click zoom.us/j/99048659652. PAR staff will be available to answer questions and to discuss the legislative process. Anyone wanting to listen in without taking part in discussions is welcome. Learn more at lrb.hawaii.gov/public-access-room.
Appointments for free Veterinary Care or Spay & Neutering can be scheduled by visiting hihs.org and clicking on the Services Tab, then selecting Spay and Neuter or Community Vet Care, or by emailing petsupport@hihs.org or calling 808-217-0154. All appointments must be scheduled in advance and are open to healthy owned dogs and cats only. Two pets per family will be accommodated. Each pet must have its own appointment. Animals other than dogs and cats, unhealthy animals, or those with contagious illnesses will not be accepted.
Micronesian-Language COVID-19 Helpline offered by We Are Oceania. Receive answers to questions about COVID-19 symptoms, testing, quarantine, health insurance, housing, unemployment, and other related questions, for those Micronesians who do not speak English. (808) 913-1364. Watch the video here.
Anyone Feeling Depressed or Anxious, or who needs someone to talk to, can call Department of Health's expanded Hawai‘i C.A.R.E.S. program at 1-800-753-6879 – the same number previously used by Crisis Line of Hawai‘i. Individuals in crisis can also text ALOHA to 741741, available 24/7.
Learn How to Practice Self-Care through Big Island Substance Abuse Council's Practice Self-Care Series. For additional series that feature refreshing wellness tips, follow the Behavioral Health & Homelessness Statewide Unified Response Group on Facebook.
Health and Fitness Website for Kūpuna, 808b-fit.com, contains videos for kūpuna to play and move along with. There are videos for stretching, tai chi, yoga, dancing, dance fitness, bon dance, hula, chair dancing, and chair yoga.
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Yoga with Emily Catey Weiss, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 8 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Volcano Art Center Niʻaulani Campus in Volcano Village. Advanced registration required; $5 per class. volcanoartcenter.org/events, 967-8222
Choose Aloha for Home is available to families, to provide a healthy way to grow together using neuroscience and positive psychology. Program uses a series of self-guided videos, activities, and "dinner table discussion topics." Sign up here.
Report Humpback Whales in Trouble is the reminder from Hawai‘i Pacific Parks Association and Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale and National Marine Sanctuary: "If you spot a humpback whale in trouble (entangled, being harassed etc.) please call the NOAA Fisheries 24 hour hotline at 1-888-256-984. The line also works for reports for sea turtles, monk seals and dolphins."
AGRICULTURE
Coffee Growers are urged to take a survey on how the pandemic is affecting them by Hawaiʻi Coffee Association. Take the survey here: surveymonkey.com/r/638VWS6.
Coffee Farmers and Producers of Other Agricultural Products encouraged to apply to the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program through Dec. 11. See funding updates and resources for coffee growers, hawaiicoffeeassoc.org. See complete list of eligible commodities, payment rates, and calculations at farmers.gov/cfap.
Program to Sell Produce and Meats on Hawaiʻi Island from commercial farmers and livestock producers on Hawai‘i Island for distribution to families in need. Learn more.
Read About Seed Biodiversity for Hawaiʻi's Local Food System in It all Begins...and Ends with Seed, where Education and Outreach Coordinator Nancy Redfeather shares her insights. Read the blog.
Find Grants and Loans Offered to Farmers and Ranchers, at oahuaca.org. The website has a new search feature.
Find Rangeland Management Resources at globalrangelands.org/state/hawaii. Subscribe to the newsletter to receive updates.
Begin Learning Basics of Organic Farming, via free modules.