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| The June crash of a Paradise Helicopter Bell 407 near South Point has led to an urgent advisory from the National Transportation Safety Board for more frequent inspections. See more below. Photo from NTSB |
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| Maile David Photo by Julia Neal |
The swearing in of new County Council member Michelle Galimba takes place on Monday, Dec. 5.
USGS ESTABLISHED A NEW MAUNA LOA LIVESTREAM on Saturday. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjGqn1K9ZQ. USGS reported that the lava flow has reduced to a crawl across the flatlands in the Saddle, delaying the likelihood of lava crossing Saddle Road.
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.
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Fissure 3 erupting high on the Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa on Saturday. Volcanic gas plume lofts high and vertically into the atmosphere before blowing to the west at high altitude, generating vog in areas downwind. Vog information can be found at https://vog.ivhhn.org/. USGS photo by F. Trusdell |
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USGS ESTABLISHED A NEW MAUNA LOA LIVESTREAM on Saturday. The link is https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnjGqn1K9ZQ. USGS reported that the lava flow has reduced to a crawl across the flatlands in the Saddle, delaying the likelihood of lava crossing Saddle Road.
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| USGS gas specialist mans a FTIR spectrometer on Northeast Rift Zone of Mauna Loa. The plume being generated by the ongoing eruption is sulfur-dioxide (SO2) rich, but also contains water vapor, carbon dioxide, and halogen gases such as HCl and HF. USGS image by M. Patrick |
In the meantime County of Hawai'i Civil Defense reported heavy traffic Saturday night on Saddle Road by people attempting to get the view in person. Civil Defense released a message saying, "The Hawai'i Police Department reports heavy, slow moving, traffic along Saddle Road between the Mauna Kea Access Road and the Pohakuloa Training Area. We recommend that you reconsider your plans if you intend on viewing the lava flow this evening. If you do decide to visit the lava viewing area or are traveling across the island via Saddle Road, expect delays around the lava flow viewing area."
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.
The pilot and two passengers were injured seriously when the Paradise Helicopter with six on board slammed into a lava field at about 5:30 p.m. on June 8. The NTSB statement noted that the "Bell 407 helicopter is a popular model among tour operators, police departments, air ambulance providers, and many others, which is why our finding is so urgent. We’re calling on regulators to act immediately ― before there’s another accident.”
STATE DEPARTMENT HEADS were named this week by Governor-Elect, Dr. Josh Green. Many are new; some are continuing. Here are six more, following seven reported in the Friday Ka'u News Briefs:
Nadine Ando, Director of Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, has over 40 years of commercial litigation experience including complex work on regulatory and professional licensing. "Her proven background with insurance investigations, financial institutions, and consumer protection will help lead the department," said Green. Catherine Awakuni Colón will hold over through mid December.
Jade Butay, Director of the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, "has tremendous executive experience working as a deputy and director for State departments, including workforce development, unemployment, occupational safety and health. He exemplifies the core tenets of trusted, caring, leadership and will help the department execute important workforce development and community services, such as the student helper program and grants-in-aid," said Green.
Jordan Lowe, Director of the Department of Law Enforcement, will continue in his role. He has over 41 years of experience in Law Enforcement, "which will help the newly created department form, develop its investigation program, and centralize its enforcement functions," said Green. Tommy Johnson, Director of Department of Public Safety, recently served as Deputy Director." His experience at the Hawai‘i Paroling Authority is critical as he leads the effort to transition the department to the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation in 2024," said Green.
Gary Suganuma, Director of Department of Taxation, recently served as the Supervising Deputy Attorney General for the Tax & Charities Division at the Department of the Attorney General where he supervised and coordinated on legal matters related to the Department of Taxation.
on Thursday, Dec. 15 as part of Finding Solutions, Growing Peace Brown Bag Lunch Series. Talks are Third Thursdays from 12 noon to 1 pm via Zoom. Speaker is Ami Kunimura. "Burnout has become a global issue, and the care you give to yourself matters just as much as the care you give to others," says Kunimura. "It's not always easy these days to maintain self-care, and my goal is to help folks recover from and prevent occupational burnout."
For more information, contact Ku'ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.
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THE HELICOPTER CRASH NEAR SOUTH POINT IN JUNE has drawn an advisory from the National Transportation Safety Board for owners of Bell 407's to immediately inspect tail booms and their structural hardware and fittings. The statement issued Friday is headlined, "Safety agency cites risk of catastrophic in-flight failure."
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| A photo of failed parts leading to a crash of a Bell 407 helicopter in June, released by NTSB with an urgent advisory for more more frequent inspections. The crash was near South Point on lava. |
The standard was for inspection every 300 flight hours. The Paradise Helicopter had been inspected 114 flight hours before the crash, contributing the NTSB's urgent message to all Bell 407 owners.
The issue is the finding that the Paradise Helicopter tail boom separated from the fuselage during the air tour and the culprit is likely hardware and fittings that hold the airship together, according to NTSB findings. Paradise Helicopter representatives said they have already adopted the more frequent inspection protocol.
The issue is the finding that the Paradise Helicopter tail boom separated from the fuselage during the air tour and the culprit is likely hardware and fittings that hold the airship together, according to NTSB findings. Paradise Helicopter representatives said they have already adopted the more frequent inspection protocol.
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.
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| Governor Elect Josh Green announces cabinet members, many new, some continuing in Hawai'i government administration. Photo from Green |
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| Jade Butay |
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| Nadine Ando |
Nadine Ando, Director of Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs, has over 40 years of commercial litigation experience including complex work on regulatory and professional licensing. "Her proven background with insurance investigations, financial institutions, and consumer protection will help lead the department," said Green. Catherine Awakuni Colón will hold over through mid December.
Jade Butay, Director of the Department of Labor & Industrial Relations, "has tremendous executive experience working as a deputy and director for State departments, including workforce development, unemployment, occupational safety and health. He exemplifies the core tenets of trusted, caring, leadership and will help the department execute important workforce development and community services, such as the student helper program and grants-in-aid," said Green.
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| Cathy Betts |
Cathy Betts, Director of the Department of Human Services, will continue in her role."Under her leadership the department worked to meet the dramatic increase in demand for social services, head-on, during the COVID-19 pandemic, said Green. He said she shares his vision "to help people first and to lead with empathy."
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| Jordan Lowe |
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| Gary Suganama |
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| Tommy Johnson |
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.
RESILIENCE AT WORK: SELF-CARE and Burnout Prevention is Ku'ikahi Mediation Center's free talk |
| Ann Kimura |
To get the Zoom link, register online at https://freebrownbagtalk.eventbrite.com.
For more information, contact Ku'ikahi Mediation Center at (808) 935-7844 or info@hawaiimediation.org. Or visit www.hawaiimediation.org.
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| See The Ka'u Calendar in the mail and in stands from Volcano through Miloli'i. Also see stories daily on facebook and at www.kaunewsbriefs.blogspot.com |
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