Kaʻū News Briefs, Tuesday, Nov. 29 2022

View of the Mauna Loa eruption before dawn Tuesday morning from Hwy 11 between Pāhala and Volcano at Mile Marker 34.
Photo by Tanya Ibarra

KAPĀPALA FOREST RESERVE AND 'ĀINAPŌ TRAIL AND CABIN ARE CLOSED to the public. State Department of Land & Natural Resources made the announcement Monday night, following closure of Mauna Loa Forest Reserve and Kipuka ‘Ainahou Nēnē Sanctuary for at least 90 days. Division of Forestry & Wildlife Hawai‘i Island Branch manager Steve Bergfeld has the discretion to close additional areas impacted by the ongoing Mauna Loa eruption, as needed. He also closed Unit J of the Kapāpala Game Management Area. "No one should be accessing Mauna Loa at this time. Our sole focus is on public safety, which depends on where lava ultimately flows,” said Bergfeld.

Lava flow view from Saddle Road Tuesday night.
Photo by Sarah de Silva

    On Monday, officers from Hawai'i Police Department and DLNR Division of Conservation & Resources Enforcement set up and began manning a roadblock at the intersection of Daniel K. Inouye Highway (Saddle Road) and Mauna Loa Observatory Access Road. Above the roadblock, on Monday, Bergfeld got a glimpse of the lava flow which he estimated at about one-mile-long. Lava appeared to be flowing slowly from the mountain’s caldera, which is continuing to send large plumes of gas and ash high into the sky. Much of the 50,000-acre Mauna Loa Forest Reserve is covered in lava from previous eruptions. Later Monday evening, the lava crossed the Mauna Loa Observatory Access Road.
    On Tuesday, the state announced its plan to close the section of Saddle Road from above Kaumana in Hilo toward the Mauna Loa Observatory access road, should the lava continue to approach Saddle Road, possibly as early as Wednesday. By Tuesday afternoon, USGS reported the flow about 4.5 miles from

Forest Reserves are closed to the public
around the Mauna Loa Lava Flow from
Saddle Road to Ka'u. Photo by Zach

Saddle Road. USGS also confirmed that that lava is no longer active in Moku'aweoweo Caldera, and there is no lava erupting from the Southwest Rift Zone and no lava flowing toward Kaʻū. The plume for from the Northeast Rift Zone is being blown to the North. Sulfur dioxide emission rates were approximately 250,000 tonnes per day, as measured on Monday.

    DLNR's Bergfeld and his staff said they are concerned that if lava begins flowing the opposite direction and into the Puʻu Makaʻala Natural Area Reserve, years of restoration work could be destroyed. Puʻu Makaʻala has been fenced to keep feral ungulates out to create habitat for numerous endangered Hawaiian forest birds and to re-establish native vegetation. It’s much too early to tell if the eruption is impacting other natural or cultural resources in the forest reserve. There are numerous other State forest reserves and natural area reserves on both sides of Mauna Loa. DOFAW reported that its teams will continue monitoring lava flows as they occur. Bergfeld said everyone’s top priority is protecting life and property.
    USGS also announced new webcam views of the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa at: https://
www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/m5cam-mauna-loa-fissure-3-eruption-northeast-rift-zone
https://www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/m6cam-mauna-loa-northeast-rift-zone-uprift-view-wswhttps://www.usgs.gov/media/webcams/m4cam-mauna-loa-northeast-rift-zone-downrift-view-ene

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THE MILOLI'I CIVIL DEFENSE MEETING IS CANCELLED for this Saturday, Dec. 3. It was designed to update and talk story with the community on the possible eruption of Mauna Loa. Now that the eruption is ongoing and on the other side of the island, the Miloli'i meeting has been delayed, according to Hawai'i County Civil Defense.

THE EVACUATION SHELTER SHUT DOWN at Kaʻū District Gym on Tuesday following confirmation that lava is not threatening the southside of the island. Red Cross, Civil Defense and Department of Parks & Recreation staff called it a good drill for any potential disaster. The gym was built with federal funding  to be Kaʻū's regional disaster shelter. The shelter opened earlier this week when some residents were leaving their homes, fearing a quick lava flow from the steep slopes of Mauna Loa to the ocean. 

USGS photo taken from Saddle Road on Tuesday shows lava flows moving northeast downslope of Mauna Loa from the
Northeast Rift Zone eruption. USGS photo by David Free

AN EMERGENCY PROCLAMATION BY THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN ISSUED. Gov. David Ige said: "We're thankful the lava flow is not affecting residential areas at this time, allowing schools and businesses to remain open. I'm issuing this Emergency Proclamation now to allow responders to respond quickly or limit access, if necessary, as the eruption continues."
    The disaster relief period is in effect through Jan. 27, 2023, unless terminated or superseded by separate proclamation.
    Hawaiʻi Department of Health is advising the public, particularly on the northeast side of the island and across the channel to Maui, to be prepared for air quality impacts due to the Mauna Loa eruption. DOH noted that COVID face masks like KN95s do NOT provide protection from sulfur dioxide or vog. However, they can help reduce inhaled hazardous particulates such as falling ash and Pele's hair, when walking outside.

 A view of fissure 4 erupting on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa, taken on Tuesday morning. Fissure 4 formed at approximately 7:30 p.m. Monday. On Tuesday morning fountains there were 5-10 m (16-33 ft) tall. USGS photo by F. Trusdell 

    The governor also noted that flights to Hawaiʻi Island resumed their normal schedule: "Hawaiʻi Island is open to visitors, and it is safe to view the volcano from a distance. Please respect our community and avoid closed areas, residential neighborhoods, and no parking zones."
    Roadside parking is prohibited along much of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway because of the danger from high-speed traffic. Parking is permitted only in designated areas and illegally parked vehicles may be ticketed or towed to protect public safety. The road is expected to be closed between upper Kaumana and the Mauna Loa Observatory access road as early as Wednesday, as the lava approaches the highway.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Nov. 28, 2022

On Monday morning, lava from Kīlauea volcano lava lake is seen to the left of the photo, and a magnificent glow from Mauna Loa, upper right, sets the morning sky aglow. NPS photo by Joyce Ibasan

THOUGH MAUNA LOA'S GLOW LOOMS BRIGHTLY over Kaʻū at night, the eruption is no longer an immediate threat to people living here and into Miloli'i and South Kona. A statement from USGS on Monday said, "There is no active lava within Moku'āweoweo caldera, and there is no lava erupting from the Southwest Rift Zone. We do not expect any eruptive activity outside the Northeast Rift Zone. No property is at risk currently. There is a visible gas plume from the erupting fissure fountains and lava flows, with the plume primarily being blown to the Northwest." The red plume became visible from much of Kaʻū and around the island as the sun set on Monday.

Mauna Loa's glow looms above Pāhala Monday evening. Photo by Julia Neal

   County of Hawai'i Civil Defense stated Monday evening, "Hawaiian Volcano Observatory reports the leading edge of two of the three fingers of lava on Mauna Loa's northeast flank have stalled and the third remains at a high elevation of over 10,000 feet and more than 10 miles from Saddle Road. The northeast flank of Mauna Loa is not populated and lava does not pose a threat to any communities or infrastructure, at this time."
    Ken Hon, Chief Scientist with USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory said, "We're hoping that this lava flow - while it will be a big, spectacular event - it occupies a fairly small proportion of the island and hopefully it will have relatively minor affects on the residents and visitors to the island." During a press conference Monday, Hon noted that the Mauna Loa eruption began at about 11:30 p.m. Sunday leading to lava covering almost the entire floor of the caldera. He said lava did leave the big caldera but stayed in summit area. Fissures that ran from the north to the southwest last night and were seen from Kona "only made it a couple of kilometers from the caldera," said Hon. About 5 a.m. Monday, USGS detected lava flows and the locus of seismic activity moving north northeast. At 6:30 a.m., USGS confirmed with overflights that lava flows were moving from fissures that had opened up in in northeast direction. Hon said the eruption progressed from a summit eruption to a rift zone eruption. 

View from Wood Valley Road. Photo by Julia Neal

    "Mauna Loa's Northeast Rift Zone is the locus of eruptive activity," said Hon, noting that there has never been an eruption on Mauna Loa that activated both rift zones at the same time nor during the same eruption. "We are presuming that all the future activity will be in the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa and not the Southeast Rift Zone."
    Hon explained that the "Northeast Rift Zone empties into the Saddle between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea and said, "There is no real habitation up there." He said that the military's Pohakuloa Training Area in the Saddle and Mauna Loa Weather Observatory are not directly threatened.
    Hon said that eventually the lava flow could potentially threaten populated areas around Hilo like in 1984, "but we are looking at somewhere around a week before we expect lava to get anywhere" in that direction - into the Hilo area. He said if this eruption is similar to Mauna Loa's last eruption in 1984, the

HVO field crews at the summit of Mauna Loa on Monday to make observations and collect information to create and update lava flow maps and inform hazard analysis. USGS photo

lava would become more viscous as time goes on and it flows on the flatter slopes in the Saddle, which would slow it down. He said the gentler slopes and the slowing of the lava prevented it from reaching Hilo in 1984. "Only a couple of eruptions have made it into the outskirts of what is current Hilo."
    Hon also explained that during the 2018 Kilauea eruption the lava moved underground, slowly at first before coming to the surface. He said eruptions are different from Mauna Loa. There is the "unzipping of the rift zone, pushing hot new lava right out." He said the Mauna Loa eruptions usually start

Aerial photo taken Monday morning from Civil Air Patrol flight over the Northeast Rift Zone eruption of Mauna Loa. 

at a high effusion rate and maintain it for a few weeks. Hon noted that Mauna Loa is a very large volcano and "there is a lot of space for lava to move around because so much of it is unoccupied." He did caution that with a continuing eruption, as flows reach below the inversion layer, SO2 levels could rise and even
blow over to Maui. He noted that the 33 past Mauna Loa eruptions averaged two weeks, with the exception of a few that lasted only a few days and a few over a year. He said Mauna Loa has not had an explosive eruption and he doesn't expect them. Instead, this is an effusive lava producing eruption with fairly low fountains, said Hon.

Gilbert Aquino, Jack Snell, Glenn Kokubun and Nona Makuakane man the Red Cross evacuation
center at the Herke's Kaʻū District Gym on Monday. They are among those representing Civil
Defense, Red Cross and Department of Parks and Recreation. Photo by Julia Neal

   Referring to the lava flowing into the Saddle, Mayor Mitch Roth said, "Right now seems like lava is going to a positive as far as keeping away from the public." Luke Meyers, Administrator of the state Hawai'i Emergency Management Agency, called the situation "Very dynamic," and encouraged everyone to "keep their guard up." Major General Ken Hara, head of Hawai'i National Guard, said National Guard is on standby for air and ground evacuation, and security assistance, with two guardsmen embedded in the county Emergency Operating Center.

    In the meantime, the Red Cross evacuation center remained open for Monday night at Herke's Kaʻū District Gym, with an expectation of it closing on Tuesday. It opened at 3 a.m. on Monday without people evacuating to stay there.

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The lavender shows lava flows on Mauna Loa since 1843, including
 those that headed into Kaʻū along the Southwest Rift Zone. The red
shows fissures active in the Northeast Rift zone, headed toward
Saddle Road. The eruption began Sunday night. USGS map

HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK REMAINS OPEN, following a new eruption on Mauna Loa volcano that began in the summit caldera late Sunday night, and migrated to the northeast rift zone Monday morning.
    For everyone’s safety, the park closed Mauna Loa Road from the gate at Kīpukapuaulu Monday morning to vehicles. The summit, cabins and high-elevation areas of Mauna Loa have been closed since early October when the volcano began to show signs of unrest and increased seismicity. In addition, Mauna Loa Observatory Road, outside of the park, is also closed to the public.
    The new eruption, which is the first time Mauna Loa has erupted since 1984, is expected to draw an influx of visitors to the park who hope to see a rare dual eruption from both Kīlauea and Mauna Loa volcanoes. Viewing areas along Kīlauea caldera before sunrise on Monday revealed a massive glow from Mauna Loa caldera, Mokuʻāweoweo (13,677 ft. elevation) and a smaller lava lake within Halemaʻumaʻu (4,009 ft.) at the summit of Kīlauea.
    Neither eruption is threatening homes or infrastructure at this time. Kīlauea has been erupting since Sept. 29, 2021 with lava confined to the summit lava lake.
    “Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is keeping close watch on Mauna Loa in tandem with our colleagues at USGS and Hawaiʻi County Civil Defense,” said Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Superintendent, Rhonda Loh. “The park is currently open, but visitors should be prepared and stay informed,” Loh said.
    Visitors are urged to check the park website www.nps.gov/hawaiivolcanoes for closure updates, safety alerts, air quality and other information including links to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory webcams and eruption updates.
    The Federal Aviation Administration has enacted a Temporary Flight Restriction encompassing a five nautical mile radius around Mauna Loa summit and 5,000 above ground level. Approved emergency response flights are excepted.

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GIFT GIVING HAS BEEN ADDED TO OCEAN VIEW'S CHRISTMAS LIGHT SHOW. The over-the-top extravaganza in Ocean View makes Lehua and Palm Streets a popular attracting droves of awed keiki and elated “kids” of all ages.
    Kaida Houvener and his family are famous for transforming their corner property into a display of Christmas lights and holiday icons. This year, Christmas eve will be even more special as Houvener dons a traditional Santa outfit and greets keiki on the corner of Lehua and Palm, giving each a small gift. Thanks to the generosity of the Ocean View community, including South Point U Cart and Ace

The light show and Christmas wonderland is on nightly in Ocean
 View, courtesy of the Houvener family of Ranchos.
Photo by Peter Bosted

    Hardware, Santa will have about 300 presents to give to keiki ages 11 and under. The Grindz food truck will be there so families can stay and enjoy the unique ambiance with a meal. Cheeky Tiki will be giving cinnamon rolls to the children. For a special holiday photo, Santa’s sleigh will be parked
nearby to play a part in making wonderful memories.
    Three hundred presents for 300 lucky boys and girls is not all that Santa has planned. There will also be four bikes that will be given to keiki on Christmas day. The four lucky ones will have their names drawn from four jars on Christmas eve. There will be a tricycle for a lucky girl and another for a lucky boy. And there will be a two-wheeler for a lucky girl aged six to nine, and another for a lucky boy that age. To enter, the keiki simply write their names and phone numbers on a ticket and drop the ticket into the appropriate jar. The owners of the four tickets that are drawn (one from each of the four jars) will be contacted by Santa on Christmas day and their names will be on Facebook.
   For this unique Christmas eve event, Lehua will be closed to autos between Ocean View and Palm, while Palm vehicular traffic will narrow to one lane as it crosses Lehua. In this way, Santa will be able to

Kaida Houvenour and Santa.
Photo by Peter Bosted

meet and greet the Keiki safely as they mill about the intersection, basking in the thousands of bright lights and spotting characters from TV programs and enjoying the festive spirit.
    Houvener said he hopes that neither the weather nor the eruption atop Mauna Loa will stop the celebrations. If it is raining on Christmas eve, Santa will hand out gifts to keikis in cars as they are driven by. If the rain is light, the fantastic display of lights will go on, but heavy rain will kibosh the event. This year, Houvener will have his hundreds of Christmas icons securely tied down, so wind should not be the problem that it has been in past years.
    The countless fans of the Houvener family’s Christmas display can show their appreciation by dropping cash into a donation box. Houvener will use the cash to buy more decorations at the box stores’ post-Christmas sales, so next year’s display will be even larger.
    “I see our Christmas display as a community effort,” Houvener told The Ka’u Calendar, “as without the community this could not happen.
    “When I see the joy in the eyes of the keiki, I feel the joy in my heart. I feel like a kid again. I want my community to feel the happiness that this community gives me and my wife and my daughter. This is the Christmas spirit that keeps us going and makes us try for a bigger and better show each year. It makes me happy to see others happy,” added Houvener.

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TROJANS GIRLS BASKETBALL TRAVELED TO KEALAKEHE on Monday to face the Warriors. Trojan scorers were Shania Silva with 4, Katrina Manatan 3, Cileya Silva-Kamei 2 and Tyra Wong Yuen 1. Trojans fell to the Warriors who won 62-10.

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Kaʻū News Briefs, Sunday, Nov. 27, 2022

Mauna Loa eruption glow seen from home in Ranchos below Ocean View. Photo by Peter Bosted

MAUNA LOA IS ERUPTING AND A GLOW CAN BE SEEN. That was the word from one resident in Ocean View who said it looked like a sunset and noted that dogs were barking. Photos of the eruption's glow in the sky are being taken from South Point and all around the island, as far away as Kawaihae. USGS webcam photos at the caldera show fountaining fissures on the caldera floor.

    USGS reported that at approximately 11:30 p.m. HST Sunday, Nov. 27, an eruption began in Moku‘āweoweo, the summit caldera of Mauna Loa, inside Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park. "At this time, lava flows are contained within the summit area and are not threatening

The Mauna Loa eruption that began at 11:30 p.m. with 
fountaining fissures on the caldera floor.

downslope communities. Winds may carry volcanic gas and possibly fine ash and Pele’s hair downwind," reported USGS.
    "Residents at risk from Mauna Loa lava flows should review preparedness and refer to Hawai‘i County Civil Defense information for further guidance.
    "Based on past events, the early stages of a Mauna Loa eruption can be very dynamic and the location and advance of lava flows can change rapidly.
    "If the eruption remains in Moku‘āweoweo, lava flows will most likely be confined within the caldera walls. However, if the eruptive vents migrate outside its walls, lava flows may move rapidly downslope.
    "HVO is in close consultation with emergency management partners and will be monitoring the volcano closely to provide further updates on activity. As soon as possible, HVO will conduct aerial reconnaissance to better describe the eruption and assess hazards."

Mauna Loa is erupting, shown by USGS webcam. The eruption began at 11:30 p.m. Sunday.

 Papahānaumokuākea, Live Wreath by Makanani, is created from palm, protea, orchid roots, ferns, succulents, ti, coral,
and  pine cone. It is one of many on wreaths on display at Volcano Art Gallery during its 23rd Annual Wreath Exhibit,
 open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except Christmas Day.

CHRISTMAS IN THE COUNTRY OPENED THIS HOLIDAY WEEKEND at Volcano Art Center Gallery. The 23rd annual celebration features the Annual Wreath Exhibit, which continues through Dec. 31. VAC Gallery in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for closing on Christmas Day.
    A VAC statement says, "This group exhibition presents one-of-a-kind wreaths in a variety of imaginative media, techniques, and styles. This year artists may engage with the theme Under The Sea, inspired by our beloved ocean and sea life. Those looking for truly original wreaths as well as one-of-a-kind, handmade gift items will not be disappointed by the selection created by the local artistic community. Held at the VAC Gallery in Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park, the exhibit is free, however park entrance fees apply.    

Amakahi wreath by Claudia McCall, created
 from  glass, lead and copper foil, on display at
Christmas in the Country, Volcano Art Gallery

    Shop the exhibit at https://volcanoartcenter.org/product-category/featured-exhibit/
    In addition to the wreath exhibit, VAC has created a "merry scene of art and aloha inside the1877 Volcano House Hotel historic building. In addition to the exquisite artwork Volcano Art Center has become known for showcasing year-round, unique holiday offerings of island-inspired gifts, ornaments, and decorations made by Hawaiʻi Island artists can also be found."
    This year Christmas in the Country has expanded to VAC's Niaulani Campus with handmade art and gifts by Hawai’i’s local artists as well as live poinsettias on display and available to purchase.  VAC’s Niaulani Campus offers extended holiday hours, Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., also closing on Christmas Day. 

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THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS GEARING UP WITH PUBLIC ACCESS ROOM IMPROVEMENTS, which have helped the citizenry of Kaʻū and all rural Hawai'i to testify, create legislation and keep up with elected officials and bills as they are introduced and make their way through the process. PAR, a division of the Legislative Reference Bureau, is a base to work from when visiting the state Capitol Building in Honolulu and it provides online access for involvement that used to be relegated to flying to Honolulu or writing letters. 

    The 2023 Hawai'i Legislature starts up on Wednesday, Jan. 18 with the state Senator Sen. Dru Kanuha and House of Representatives member Jeanne Kapela representing all of Kaʻū. 

     The Legislature’s Public Access Room website, capitol.hawaii.gov, has been redesigned to provide a simpler, more intuitive experience and a site that’s easy to work with on a cellphone. See the guide at https://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/docs/HiLegSiteGuide2022.pdf
    The capitol.hawaii.gov site includes a Reports and Lists link, as well as a search box at the top to find bills by subject matter and key words or to find bills by bill number. Also available is searching the current Hawaii Revised Statutes and Session Laws of Hawaii. Registration for the site is free.

    As the Thirty-Second Hawai'i Legislature organizes, the November elections completed, Public Access Room is updating its Current Legislature with names of those statewide who will be serving House and Senate seats. Ongoing updates include leadership assignments, committee structure, room numbers and office managers, as the chambers organize and information becomes available. The info can be found at lrb.hawaii.gov/par.

    Public Access Room also offers Zoom workshops for groups who want to learn more about the legislative process and getting involved. PAR can also set up one-on-one tutorials. Workshops can cover using the new website, understanding the legislative process, and/or how to effectively advocate for or against legislation. 

    For students and the public headed from Kaʻū to Honolulu, visiting the Capitol is an option. The Capitol building is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. Individual office hours of House and Senate members vary. PAR recommends  to contact them beforehand. An ID is required for entry into the Capitol building, and that COVID policies differ among entities that occupy the capitol building, and will most likely continue to evolve, notes PAR. 

    In its facilities within the Capitol, PAR asks that masks be worn and has some available. PAR is open during the interim from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Once session starts it will open from 7:45 a.m. to 5  p.m. The public is invited to stop by to pick up some handouts, ask questions, and say hello or to contact by email and through the internet.

   Public Access Room online is at https://lrb.hawaii.gov/par. In person, or through mail, it is located at 415 S. Beretania St., #401, Honolulu, HI 96813. Email is par@capitol.hawaii.gov. Phone is 808-587-0478.Its YouTube is Hawaii Public Access Room. Follow on Twitter @Hawaii_PAR Follow on Facebook @PublicAccessRoom

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BOYS & GIRLS BASKETBALL WILL PLAY AT HOME. Ka'u Trojan Girls and Boys teams have been on the road and home games are set. In late November, Trojan Boys played at Kamehameha with the Warriors keeping the win on their home court. Score was Kamehameha 56, Ka'u 38.
    Home games for the Boys, under coach Troy Gacayan, will see Hilo coming to Ka'u on Tuesday, Dec. 6, Kohala arriving on Wednesday, Dec. 14 and St. Josephs on Saturday, Jan. 7. Kau boys travel to Honoka'a on Saturday Dec. 10, Pahoa, Tuesday Jan, 3.
    The Trojan girls, under Coach Chrysa Dacalio, will host Pahoa on Friday, Dec. 16, Kamehameha on Thursday, Dec. 22, Honoka'a on Saturday Jan. 14, and Kealakehe on Thursday, Jan. 19.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

 

Kaʻū News Briefs, Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022

‘Ōpae ‘ula, or tiny red anchialine pool shrimp like the ones shown here, were one of the main topics of the fifth International

 Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems held on Hawai'i Island in November, available on facebook and YouTube

 Photo by Lindsey Kramer

HAWAI'I WILDLIFE FUND'S FOCUS ON PRESERVING ANCHIALINE PONDS, many of the brackish pools with native shrimp along the Ka'u Coast, is the subject of a wrap-up statement this week on its November symposium, with presentations now available on facebook and YouTube.
    Hawai'i Wildlife Fund and partners' fifth annual International Symposium on Anchialine Ecosystems marked the first time Hawai‘i hosted this international event, and it welcomed more than 125 scientists, resource managers, students, and community members from around the world. Hawai‘i experts represented 78 percent. Seventeen percent came from the U.S. Mainland, and five percent from Croatia, Italy, Canada, and Mexico. "We were honored to provide a platform for sharing the brilliant research, management and restoration projects going on both globally and locally here in Hawai‘i," said the statement from the organizers.
    In the words of Troy Sakihara of the Hawai‘i state Division of Aquatic Resources, “This year’s symposium was grounded upon the importance of and our collective kuleana, a broad, inherent responsibility to culture and place. While the endemic flora and fauna of Hawaiian anchialine ecosystems are celebrations enough for conservation and protection, the cultural, spiritual, and historical significance of these pools are transcendent.”
    Opening plenary presenters, Ku‘ulei Keakealani and Lehua Kamaka, helped set the tone and intention by connecting participants with e ola nā loko wai, the life-giving characteristics of these combined freshwater and marine ecosystems. The following day, plenary speaker Dr. Scott Santos walked attendees through the genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula (Halocaridina rubra) populations in the Hawaiian Islands. Symposium talks ranged from restoration techniques for improving water quality and eradicating invasive species, to preparing for the potential impacts of climate change and rising sea levels. 

Dr. Scott Santos presented his research on genetic diversity and interconnectedness of red pool shrimp, ‘ōpae ‘ula,
(Halocaridina rubra) in the Hawaiian Islands. Photo by Lindsey Kramer/ HWF

   Other presentation highlights included an overview of the protection and restoration efforts of the Kaumaui area in Keaukaha, East Hawai‘i, presented entirely in ‘ōlelo Hawai‘i, by student practitioners from Ka ‘Umeke Ka‘eo Hawaiian Immersion Public Charter School. Another was an overview of recent efforts to cultivate and use the native plant, ‘auhuhu (Tephrosia purpurea) and plant-based rotenone chemicals to help remove invasive fish and restore native wildlife to anchialine pools. The statement from organizers reported, "A stunning, albeit not completely surprising talk on the impacts of microplastics reaching fragile anchialine cave ecosystems. Let’s all continue to cut-down on our use of single-use plastics, OK?"

    Huaka‘i, field trips, featured visits to an array of anchialine ecosystems, including both restored pools and pools populated with invasive fish like tilapia, mosquitofish, and guppies. After the symposium, some participants ventured to check out the newly formed, geothermically-heated and piping hot anchialine pools inshore of a newly created coastline during the Kilauea eruption.
    According to Megan Lamson, Hawai'i Wildlife Fund President and Hawai‘i Program Director, “The 5ISAE event was a grand success, bringing a wealth of knowledge and variety of anchialine perspectives from around the world and across Hawai‘i to Kona to discuss the ongoing research, restoration work, and protection efforts happening in these pools, ponds, cracks, caves and crevices. It was a true honor to see folks being able to learn and share from one another, Hawai‘i participants bringing more culture and place-based solutions and stories, and mainland / global researchers bringing more bio-geo-chemical aspects (and new vocabulary) to the table. We were humbled by the community support and are thankful that it brought such positive attention to these special habitats and the flora/ fauna/ fungus that live there.”

During a huaka‘i, field trip, participants visited remote anchialine pool sites in Kaʻū. Photo HWF 

    Lead organizers of the event, based in Kona, included Hui Loko; the team at Hawai‘i Wildlife Fund; Hawai‘i Department of Land & Natural Resources' Division of Aquatic Resources, Division of Forestry & Wildlife; Division of State Parks; The Nature Conservancy, and the National Park Service. Generous financial support was provided by Kamehameha Schools, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s Pacific Islands Fish & Wildlife Office, He‘eia Bay Forever, the U.S. Geological Survey, Fair Wind Cruises, and several private donors. Other key sponsors included Lili‘uokalani Trust, Hawai‘i Fish Habitat Partnership, Hawai‘i Mountain Running, Kua‘āina Ulu ‘Auamo, Hawai‘i Coral Reef Initiative, David Shepard Hawai‘i, Mauna Lani Auberge Resorts, and the Four Seasons Resort.
   Local vendors that donated items included Annette Tagawa, Ao Organics Hawai‘i, Aquatic Life Divers, Ashley Pugh, Fish Hopper Restaurant (Kona), Friends of Lili’uokalani Gardens, Greenwell Farms, Hawaii Forest & Trail, J. Hara Store, Jack’s Diving Locker, Jodie Ray Rosam, Kahulale‘a, Ka‘u Coffee Mill & Visitor Center, Kona Coffee Company, Kona Joe Coffee, Lava Lava Beach Club- Waikōloa, Liko Lehua, Momi Ahu, Naomi Ahu, Nalu Builds, ‘Ohana Slippah Fish, Ola Brew, Orchid Isle Snacks, S. Tokunaga Store, Inc., Sea Paradise Sailing and Snorkeling Tours, Sig Zane Designs, and Takeo Gyotaku. Donated items helped fund additional student travel stipends and online accessibility of the symposium proceedings. 

   In coordination with CarbonBuddy, the event was carbon-neutral.
   To see all of the presentations, check out the HWF YouTube channel and the 5ISAE event Facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/hianchialine). Talks will continue to be posted on both platforms: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7NmR2xxy9Zc&list=PLAi8pqpKGj4u-_7kxW7XutEjdbMljklP6.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Letters to Santa from Pāhala keiki will bring them gifts before Christmas. Photo by Jana Kaniho

Deadline for Letters to Santa to reach
the Pahala Post Office is Dec. 15.
Photo by Jana Kaniho

LETTERS TO SANTA IN PĀHALA bring gifts to keiki at Pāhala Post Office. The protocol is for keiki who live in Pāhala to write letters to Santa asking for a humble gift and the post office staff and supporters attempt to make their holidays wish come true.

     Deadline to receive the Letters to Santa is Thursday, Dec. 15, addressed to  Pāhala Post Office, Pāhala, HI 96777. The gifts will be handed out on a date to be announced before Christmas, said organizer Jana Kaniho. She emphasized that keiki be very specific about the gift they would like to receive.

    Donations to support the program have come from  O Kaʻū Kakou and private citizens. Donations can be given at the post office in cash, check or in the form of gift cards from Target, Walmart and Amazon.

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

Volcano School keiki visit Volcano Art Center to
 sing Aloha 'Aina and display their art.
Photo from Volcano School

ALOHA AND 'AINA are subjects learned in the classroom of the PreK class at Volcano School of Arts & Sciences. "When students decided to combine the two words, amazing things happened.  A mele and a piece of art were created," said teacher Michelle Buck. Volcano Art Center put the students' art piece on the back lanai. Second graders accompanied the PreK class to visit their art on display.  The children hiked through the Ni'aulani Rain Forest and sculpture garden prior to stopping for a group photo.  

To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see www.facebook.com/kaucalendar. See latest print edition at wwwkaucalendar.com. See upcoming events at https://kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com/2022/04/upcoming-events-for-kau-and-volcano.html.

HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES AT THE CLUB AT DISCOVERY HARBOUR include Trees of Hope, the Jingle Bell Open and and Ho'olili Farmers Market

     Trees of Hope begins Monday, Dec. 5 and runs through Jan. 5. Non-profit groups will decorate Christmas trees to be displayed at the clubhouse. As members and guest visit, they will have the opportunity to make donations and provide gifts to the organizations of their choice.

      A Ho'ili'ili Farmers Market will be held on Saturday, Dec. 10 at The Club at Discovery Harbour, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., with holoholu fun, live music, food and local treasures, including island gifts for the holidays.

     A golf competition called the Jingle Bell Open will be held at Discovery Harbour on Saturday, Dec. 10 with a Shotgun at 8 a.ml, trophies for winning team, a putter for the closest pin and driver for the longest drive. It is presented by ClubTech. Cost is $45 per person. Sign up at clubatdiscoveryharbour@gmail.com or call 808-731-5122.