Saturday, June 06, 2020

Ka‘ū News Briefs, Saturday, June 6, 2020

A Mauna Loa lava flow destroying the village of Hoʻopuloa near Miloliʻi in 1926. Photo by Tai Sing Loo

PREDICTING AND PREPARING FOR AN ERUPTION ON MAUNA LOA is part of the County of Hawaiʻi Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan, which is nearing its final stages.
     (A meeting on the subject was reported in error in this Kaʻū News Brief. There is no future meeting on the plan scheduled for Ocean View at this time.)
Historical Lava Flows from 1790 to 2018 are shown on this map from the Hawaiʻi
County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Areas of high lava risk are shown by color, with the
highest risk the darkest color and ranked as 1, the lowest risk, the lightest color, ranked
as 9. Map from Hawaiʻi County Hazard Mitigation Plan
     The Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan was under review by the public through June 2, but more input is welcome. It describes Mauna Loa as .6 to one million years old, with most of its life underwater, and 300,000 years above sea level. Its last eruption was in 1984, lasting 22 days.
     Its current status is a "Very high threat potential," says the mitigation plan. Areas at risk include Kaʻū and South Kona, with Ocean View and the Miloliʻi area.
     Flows during the last century include fast-moving lava taking out the village of Hoʻopulao near Miloliʻi in 1926.
     The Mitigation Plan reports on a 1950 flow: "Earthquake swarms under Mauna Loa occurred throughout 1949, and a large 6.4-magnitude earthquake was felt in May 1950. In June 1950, a fissure erupted on Mauna Loa's Southwest Rift Zone, leading to multiple parallel fissures along the rift zone. The eruption destroyed the Hoʻokena-mauka village in South Kona, with the swiftly flowing lava traveling 14 miles in only 3 hours. Residents of the village escaped unharmed. Lava passed through commercial and residential areas, over highways, and through forests, continuing down into the ocean and creating clouds of steam. This eruption lasted for 23 days and erupted 376 million cubic meters of lava (USGS 2018a)."
     During the eruption, one of the flows moved south-southeastward toward Punalu‘u and crossed Kahuku Ranch's upper pasture road. The flow entered the upper reaches of the Ka‘ū Forest Reserve after flowing approximately ten miles.
     The Hazard Mitigation Plan explains the big Mauna Loa picture:
     "Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on Earth (above surface - editor). Its above-ground surface area of 1,900 square miles covers over half the County. Scientists believe this volcano emerged above sea level about 300,000 years ago and has been growing rapidly upward since then. This volcano also includes submarine flanks, which have been mantled by landslide deposits. It is believed that one of these deposits produced a giant tsunami about 105,000 years ago.
     "A steep-sided rift zone of Mauna Loa's southeastern flank, called the Nīnole Hills, (between Pāhala and Honuʻapo) has experienced erosion that created deep canyons and valleys where old flows occurred (USGS 2017e). Mauna Loa has a summit caldera and two radiating rift or fracture zones. Its eruptions can occur at the summit, from vents on the southwest rift zone and the east rift zone, and on the north and northwest flanks of the volcano."
     The Mitigation Plan also says: "Future large eruptions of Mauna Loa's southwest rift zone and Hualalai in Kona may evolve quickly and produce lava flows that travel up to tens of miles in a few hours or less, generally faster than velocities expected for typical flows at Kīlauea. Radial vent eruptions on Mauna Loa's north and west flank occur outside the rift zones and could represent a greater problem than rift zone eruptions because of their potential to begin closer to or within developed areas."
Lava from Mauna Loa hits the ocean in 1950, creating a huge cloud
of rising steam. USGS photo
     Read the entire Hawaiʻi County Multi-Hazard Mitigation Plan draft.

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HIGHER RESIDENTIAL ELECTRIC BILLS may be showing up for customers of Hawaiian Electric this month. Due to scaling back of meter reading during the shutdown, bills for parts of March and April were estimated based on each customer's respective usage in the prior month, says the utility. "We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience."
     Customers are now receiving "true-up bills that reflect the amount of electricity actually used." For accounts that reduced energy use during the pandemic, the true-up bill will account for any overestimation from the prior estimated bill. For accounts that increased energy usage, the true-up bill will account for any underestimation from the prior estimated bill.
     Hawaiian Electric says, "Stay-at-home orders resulted in many residents using more electricity in March, April and part of May – air conditioners, computers, lights, appliances – because they didn't go out for school, work, and weekend activities. On average, residential customers used about 13 percent more electricity, with above-average users consuming as much as 17 percent more. Depending on the individual customer's use, the increase could be more or less.
     "Lower oil prices mean lower electric rates this summer and should help offset higher usage, depending on how efficiently customers manage their use of air conditioners and other appliances."
     Tips on using less energy are available at hawaiianelectric.com/products-and-services/save-energy-and-money. Hawaiʻi Energy is another resource for tips and rebates to help offset the costs of energy-saving equipment and services. See hawaiienergy.com/tips or call 808-537-5577.
     Customers having a difficult time paying a higher true-up bill are urged to contact customer service, so a payment arrangement can help smooth the payment over more than one month. No late fees or interest will apply at this time. While customers are responsible for paying for their bills, there are options available to help keep accounts current. Fill out a Payment Arrangement Request Form at hawaiianelectric.com/CustomerServiceOptions or call 969-6999 for Hilo or 329-3584 for Kona.
     Service disconnections for nonpayment have been suspended through June 30, but customers should not wait until then to contact Hawaiian Electric if they are experiencing financial strain as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

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THE AIRLINE PILOTS ASSOCIATION ENDORSED KAI KAHELE this week in his candidacy for Congress, to represent Kaʻū and the rest of rural Hawaiʻi.
     Hawaiian Airlines Master Executive Council of the Air Line Pilots Association union, represents 871 Hawaiian Airlines pilots. Kahele has been a member of ALPA for more than 10 years. ALPA represents and advocates for more than 63,000 pilots at 35 U.S. and Canadian airlines, making it the world's largest airline pilot union.
     Hawaiian Airlines MEC-ALPA says, "It is critical to have representatives like Kai Kahele in Congress who have pledged to represent the pilot profession and champion its causes, including installing secondary cockpit barriers, restricting flag of convenience models, and enacting safety and security for all-cargo operations, among other issues. Senator Kahele's background and commitment to these issues is especially critical given the severe challenges that COVID-19 presents to the state of Hawaiʻi."
     Kahele's campaign says he "is ready to get to work for a brighter future for Hawai'i's hardworking families — mahalo for standing with us as we continue to build momentum and support for our campaign."
     See kaikahele.com.

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A MESSAGE FROM WEST KAʻŪ'S STATE REP. DRU KANUHA takes a look at how the very recent rise in COVID-19 cases reaffirms the need for precautions. He also notes that Hawaiʻi is gifted with living in Aloha, in light of the recent unrest from the protests about unequal treatment of Blacks in America:
     "As we have flattened the curve of COVID-19 in the State of Hawai‘i, there has been a recent uptick of confirmed cases noting that we have relaxed in following general physical precautions like wearing a mask when in public, social distancing or washing hands regularly. Although the beauty of Hawai‘i can give you a sense of comfort and resolute, we are still in a state of emergency and maintaining our low numbers for confirmed cases will take a unified effort – we all have to do our part. Therefore, please continue to be vigilant in practicing general physical precautions and support recovery efforts for the month of June to be effective, unified, and inclusive.
     Now, I want to take this moment to recognize recent events that have transpired in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and around the United States, regarding George Floyd. Although there is a body of water that separates Hawai‘i from her sister States, the pain and struggles of the African-American community – our family and friends – resonates deeply throughout our islands.
     In the State of Hawai‘i, we are blessed to live with the values of aloha (love), kuleana (responsibility), lokahi (unity), and ‘ike pono (understanding) – that all life is precious and every human being has the right to a decent life. Therefore, let us take a moment to reflect and give thanks for what we have while sending our aloha to our brothers and sisters fighting the good fight, working to make this world more just, equitable, and prosperous for all.

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
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NO NEW COVID-19 CASES ON HAWAIʻI ISLAND, but eight more new cases on Oʻahu and one new case from out-of-state for a resident brings the state's new case total to nine for the second day in a row. All 81 cases on-island since the pandemic began are recovered.
     Since the pandemic began, Oʻahu has reported 439 cases, Kauaʻi 21 cases, and Maui County 120 cases. Twelve cases are included in Hawaiʻi's count, residents diagnosed while in other places. Statewide, 673 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, "Hawaiʻi's people are to be commended in their work and cooperation to minimize the spread of the virus. On going forward, know that the coronavirus threat remains and we need to continue to follow the preventive policies to stop this virus and keep Hawaiʻi safe. Thank you for doing your part. Thank you for listening and have a safe weekend. This is your Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense Agency."
Civil Defense Director 
Talmadge Magno.
Photo from Big Island Video News
     In the United States, more than 1.96 million cases have been confirmed. The death toll is over 111,000. Worldwide, more than 6.73 million have contracted COVID-19. The death toll is over 394,000.

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A CENTURY-OLD ERUPTION AT MAUNA IKI is 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. This week's article is written by Scott Rowland, volcanologist at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa:
     The 1919–1920 Mauna Iki eruption at Kīlauea Volcano
     As many people have noted, the last global pandemic was raging one hundred years ago. Kīlauea was erupting 100 years ago, although it was certainly not quite as significant of an event on the world stage. 
     This eruption a century ago produced the Mauna Iki, little mountain, lava shield on Kīlauea's Southwest Rift Zone. It started in December 1919 and ended in early August 1920. The eruption was monitored by the entire staff of two (!) geologists at the then seven-year-old HVO. Their detailed notes and measurements have allowed geologists in more modern times to piece together both surface and subsurface events into a coherent story. This rift zone eruption coincided with lava-lake activity in Halema‘uma‘u, and overall bears some resemblance to the dramatic Kīlauea events of two years ago, although far less damaging.
     In late November 1919, the long-lived Halema‘uma‘u lava lake stood at a high level, and in fact frequently overflowed onto the main caldera floor. Suddenly, on Nov. 28, it drained away completely without earthquakes, leaving an empty pit almost 200 meters (660 feet) deep.
     Over the next couple of weeks, lava returned and filled Halema‘uma‘u almost to the rim again. On Dec. 15, an eruption on the caldera floor just southwest of Halema‘uma‘u produced a small lava flow. More significantly, surface cracks opened in a southwesterly direction outside the caldera to a distance of 10 kilometers (6 miles) down the rift zone. Magma was observed not far below the surface in these cracks, so it was obvious that a dike of molten rock was propagating down the rift zone.
     This brief summit eruption and propagating dike are considered stage 1 of the Mauna Iki eruption, which lasted until Dec. 23. Stage 2a started Dec. 24 and consisted of low lava fountains at what was to become the Mauna Iki vent. This activity produced a low ridge of shelly pāhoehoe, a small lava shield, and a few other pads of lava, and coincided with a drop in the level of the Halema‘uma‘u lake. The combined erupted volume was essentially equal to the volume lost from Halema‘uma‘u, indicating that lava was probably draining passively through the dike downrift to the eruption site.
Mauna Iki, viewed toward the south from the Ka‘ū Desert trail inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. Note the
very gentle profile, which mimics that of a standard Hawaiian shield volcano. The distinct dark flow is ‘a‘ā, and its
source is a slightly up-raised area of broken pāhoehoe slabs. Lava must have moved within the shield and
accumulated beneath the surface. By the time it broke out, it had cooled to the point that it could
no longer flow as pāhoehoe and instead formed ‘a‘ā. Photo courtesy of S. Rowland
     Stage 2b started Dec. 30 and involved a significant breakout of lava from within the low ridge, producing an ‘a‘ā flow that initially advanced almost 6 kilometers per day (almost 4 miles/day), but soon slowed. It reached an eventual length of 11 kilometers (about 7 miles) by the time it stopped moving on Jan. 17, 1920.
     Stage 3 lasted from Jan. 18 to April 16, and it was during this time that the main Mauna Iki lava shield was built by the accumulation of numerous pāhoehoe overflows from a small lava pond at the top of the shield. The shield also grew internally when lava leaked from the lava pond and forced its way between layers beneath the surface, bulging the surface upward, and often breaking out as small ‘a‘ā flows.
     The Halema‘uma‘u lava lake surface rose continuously during stage 3, which means that deep storage had to be supplying both Halema‘uma‘u and Mauna Iki. If you add up the filling rate of Halema‘uma‘u and the eruption rate at Mauna Iki during stage 3, the sum was very similar to the long-term supply rate to Kīlauea during more recent long-lasting eruptions: Mauna Ulu, Kupaianaha, and pre-2018 Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō. 
Fast-moving lava flows erupted from Mauna Iki were hand-colored in this black-and-white photo taken on May
17, 1920. Historic photo courtesy of Roger and Barbara Myers
    Stage 4 started in mid-April when lava tubes developed, and the shield stopped growing higher. Instead, lava flowed in these tubes to feed a downrift pāhoehoe flow that paralleled, and in places buried, the stage 2b ‘a‘ā flow.
     At the start of this final stage, Halema‘uma‘u lake activity switched from filling to draining, losing lava at a volumetric rate almost identical to that of the advancing tube-fed pāhoehoe flows, suggesting simple draining from the summit reservoir system downrift to Mauna Iki. The tube-fed pāhoehoe flows advanced until Aug. 3, when the eruption ended.
     Only because of detailed field observations and summit measurements by HVO's Thomas Jaggar and Ruy Finch are we able to piece together this chronology. They even devised a way to measure ground tilt without a tiltmeter by observing the systematic drift of their seismograph needles. It is hard to imagine, but geologists 100 years in the future will almost certainly be pouring over the notes and data collected during the 2018 eruption, and they will be thankful for the modern-day geologists who put in such long hours and days during that historic event.
     Volcano Activity Updates
     Kīlauea Volcano is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level remains at NORMAL (https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/vhp/about_alerts.html). Kīlauea updates are issued monthly.
     Kīlauea monitoring data for the month of May 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://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea/summit_water_resources.html.
Mosaic of air photographs showing the Mauna Iki shield and lava flows.
Photos taken by Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, Dec. 29, 1964 
     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 65 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). The largest earthquake was a magnitude 3.2 event below the volcano's Southwest Rift Zone on June 2. Global Positioning System measurements show long-term slowly increasing summit inflation, consistent with magma supply to the volcano's shallow storage system. Gas concentrations and fumarole temperatures at the summit and Sulphur Cone on the Southwest Rift Zone remain stable. For more information on current monitoring of Mauna Loa Volcano, see https://volcanoes.usgs.gov/volcanoes/mauna_loa/monitoring_summary.html.
     There were 4 events with 3 or more felt reports in the Hawaiian islands during the past week: a magnitude-2.6 earthquake 15 km (9 mi) S of Fern Acres at 7 km (4 mi) depth on May 31 at 5:13 p.m., a magnitude-3.6 earthquake 6 km (4 mi) NE of Pāhala at 33 km (21 mi) depth on May 30 at 7:34 p.m., a magnitude-1.9 earthquake 17 km (11 mi) NNE of Hawaiian Ocean View at -1 km (-1 mi) depth on May 30 at 1:11 a.m., and a magnitude-3.5 earthquake 6 km (4 mi) E of Pāhala at 33 km (21 mi) depth on May 29 at 5:07 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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Sen. Mazie Hirono and the late Sen. Daniel Inouye's wife, Irene Inouye watched steamers fly over the warship named 
Inouye at the christening at Bath Ironworks in Maine last June. Photo from Navy Times
Kaʻū Life: The Way We Were Last Year
Last year, USS Daniel Inouye was christened, with Sen. Mazie Hirono, Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, delivering the principal address at the ceremony. The 509-foot ship, christened at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard in Maine, is the Navy's 68th Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, and is expected to arrive at its homeport at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam in 2020. The ship carries the "Go for Broke" motto of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team in which the late Senator Inouye served.
Sen. Mazie Hirono and Irene Hirano Inouye. Photo from Hinoro's office
     The Navy Times reported that "a tropical flair" was brought "to a state known for cold weather," with lei around the necks of dignitaries and "a giant one on the warship." Irene Hirano Inouye, the late senator's wife, and the ship's sponsor, smashed a bottle of champagne on the bow of the future guided-missile destroyer, which is still under construction. She said the Hawaiian touch was important, reported the Navy Times.
     "The traditions of the Navy are very special and historic. But to truly make it reflect on Dan's life, and the people on Hawaiʻi, our team had to find ways to bring a little bit of Hawaiʻi to Maine," said Inouye before the ceremony.
     Hinoro said a christening is "when we solemnly dedicate, name, and commit a new ship to sea and service to our country." She said it is also intended to "invite good luck to the crew in carrying out their mission. This is especially important when the ship will be dispatched in defense of the United State in uncertain times. Over the coming decades, thousands of sailors will serve aboard this ship – each of them answering their country's call to serve something greater than themselves."
The USS Daniel Inouye was christened last June at a shipyard in Maine
Sen. Maize Hirono made the ceremony's principal address, giving the history 
of Inouye. Photo from PCU USS Daniel Inouye DDG 118 Facebook
     Hirono said the warship will be "under the prospective command of Commander DonAnn Gilmore," and play a "critical role in protecting and advancing American interests in the Indo-Pacific region – just as Senator Inouye did throughout his life and service in Congress. To the brave Sailors who will serve on the Navy's newest ship and who are here today, I commend you for continuing in the tradition of Senator Inouye's service to our country. To the crew, I wish you makani olu olu. I wish you all fair winds. Go for broke, as you serve the country on this incredible new ship."

     Sen. Inouye was a Medal of Honor recipient and represented Hawaiʻi in the U.S. Senate for half a century. He lost his right arm in Italy, during combat in World War II. He died in 2012.

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.
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.

ONGOING
Free COVID-19 Screenings are at Bay Clinic during business hours, with appointment. Call 333-3600.
     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.
     A testing team from Aloha Critical Care in Kona will provide testing at St. Jude's every other Wednesday. The next date is June 17 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     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 was June 1; the July date will be announced later.
     Ocean View's Kahuku Park is Monday, June 8; the July date will be announced later.
     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.

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