Monday, September 11, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs, Monday, Sept. 11, 2023

 An eruption-monitoring overflight on Monday showed  multiple minor fountains active in the eastern portion of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor and on the downdropped block within Kīlauea's summit caldera. The line of vents stretched approximately 0.8 miles (1.4 km), from the eastern part of Halema‘uma‘u crater floor extending into the east wall of the downdropped block. Lava fountain heights were about 30 to 35 feet high Monday morning. USGS Photo by J. Schmith 

BE PREPARED FOR AIR QUALITY IMPACTS FROM THE ERUPTION OF Kīlauea, cautions state Department of Health. It reported Monday that permanent air quality monitoring stations registered some elevated poor air quality levels at Ocean View and Pāhala. The eruption has also caused vog conditions to return up the coast to Kona on the west side of Hawaiʻi Island. "Particulates in the air and levels of sulfur dioxide may increase and fluctuate in various localized areas on Hawai‘i Island, causing poor air quality," says the Department of Health statement.
    Air quality has been fluctuating and SO2 readings reached Unhealthy for Sensitive People and for a short time it was Hazardous on Monday before dawn in Ocean View but recovered. Good air quality lasted all day into late evening Monday in Ocean View and Pāhala as the breeze shifted the vog offshore and carried it toward Kona.
    USGS reported that volcanic gas emissions in the eruption area are elevated; between 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. Sunday, HVO staff measured preliminary sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rates of up to 100,000 tonnes per day or more.
    At Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park on Monday,  Keanakākoʻi viewing area was closed due to unsafe air quality. The Park posted, "That big plume you see contains sulfur dioxide, other gases and shards of volcanic glass that pose a significant risk to anyone if inhaled. Stay safe and stay out of closed areas."
  DOH advises "to be prepared for and aware of the surrounding conditions, and how they may react to poor air quality or vog. When in areas of vog, DOH suggests precautionary measures:
  • Reduce outdoor activities that cause heavy breathing. Avoiding outdoor activity and exercise during vog conditions can reduce exposure and minimize health risks. This is especially important for sensitive groups, such as children, the elderly, and individuals with pre-existing respiratory conditions including asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and chronic lung and heart disease.
  • People with asthma or other chronic respiratory disease should always have medications available. 
  • Daily prescribed medications should be taken on schedule.
    Vog rises out of Halema‘uma‘u on Sept. 11 and heads toward
    Kaʻū and Kona, sometimes missing Kaʻū as it travels offshore.
    USGS Photo by J. Schmith
  • People experiencing health effects should contact their medical provider as soon as possible if any symptoms develop, as respiratory conditions might worsen rapidly in heavy sulfur dioxide or vog conditions.
  • Stay indoors and close windows and doors. If an air conditioner is used, set it to recirculate. If you need to move out of an impacted area, turn on the car's air conditioner and set it to recirculate.
  • Face masks (surgical, cloth, KF94, KN95, N95) do not provide protection from sulfur dioxide or vog.         
  • However, they can be effective in outdoor environments in reducing inhaled hazardous particulates associated with falling ash and Pele's hair.
  • Do not smoke and avoid second-hand smoke.
  • Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration.
    Vog and air quality updates are available through the:Hawaiʻi Interagency Vog Information Dashboard, and through DOH Clean Air Branch.


Trojans Girls Volleyball continued a winning streak at home against the Cowgirls on Monday. Photo by Julia Neal
Ka‘ū beat Kohala at home on Monday, Sept. 11 Images by Jennifer Makuakani
TROJANS GIRLS VOLLEYBALL CONTINUED ITS WINNING STREAK at home on Monday, with Varsity beating Kohala 25-14, 25-15 and 25-18. The Kohala Cowgirls JV won in three sets 12-25, 25-16 and 15-7. 
      In the home opener on Aug. 30 against Pāhoa Daggers,  JV and Varsity both won in three sets. Kaʻū traveled to Lapahoehoe on Sept. 8 with varsity taking down the Seasiders in three sets.
     The next competition is at home again this Wednesday, Sept. 13 against the Makua Lani Lionesses at 5 p.m., followed by an away game against the Parker School Bulls in Waimea on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 10 a.m.


HAWAI‘I RANKS 39TH IN VACCINATING FOR COVID, according to a WalletHub study released Monday. Hawai‘i ranks 43rd for children and teenagers, 36th for adults and the elderly. Other states ranking in the bottom 13 for COVID vaccinations are: Mississippi, Alaska, Arizona, Georgia, Wyoming, Oklahoma, Texas, Nevada, West Virginia, Louisiana and New Jersey. 
    Hawai‘i Gov. Josh Green, MD encouraged everyone to get vaccinated with daily online and televised updates on the COVID pandemic during his tenure as Lt. Governor and now Governor.
    States with the highest rates of COVID vaccinations are: Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Iowa, Vermont, Connecticut, Washington, North Dakota, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Colorado, Maine, Maryland and Pennsylvania.
    The WalletHub report narrative supports vaccinations, stating: "Vaccinations are some of the most valuable contributions to modern medicine. They have drastically reduced the prevalence of certain diseases, including polio, tetanus, measles and chicken pox. One disease, smallpox, has even been eradicated completely, with no natural cases since 1977. 
    "Most recently, we developed a vaccine for COVID-19, which drastically cut down cases and deaths, and allowed the country to get back to normalcy.
    "Vaccines are most effective when a large portion of the population gets them, so it’s important to make sure people are educated on the importance of vaccines and how much good they have done for public health. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that vaccines prevent around 4 to 5 million deaths per year. Vaccines are also very safe, and according to the WHO, 'so few deaths can plausibly be attributed to vaccines that it is hard to assess the risk statistically.'”

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A BON DANCE CLASS WILL BE HELD THIS WEDNESDAY, in preparation for the community Bon Dance this Saturday, Sept. 16 at Pāhala Hongwanji. The Wednesday practice will be at Pāhala Community
Center 11:30 a.m. and is free. It will be taught by Jane Heit from Puna Hongwanji and also by Tsukikage Odorikai.


FIREARMS, DRUG AND THEFT CHARGES AGAINST OCEAN VIEW RESIDENT Daniel James Lemaire have been made. Hawai‘i Police Department and Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen reported on Monday that they made the arrest this past Saturday, Sept. 9 and he was charged on Sunday, Sept. 10. Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged the 42-year-old, stemming from an incident in Kailua-Kona on Friday, Sept. 8, involving the stealing of a car at Kona Airport.
     Lemaire made his initial appearance in Kona District Court on Monday afternoon. Over Prosecutors’ objections, the District Court granted Lemaire’s request to reduce his bail from $288,250 to $10,000. Lemaire was ordered to appear for a preliminary hearing on Sept. 13 in Kona District Court. 
Danielle James Lemaire
    Around 11:20 a.m. on Friday morning, patrol officers observed a previously reported Saturn Vue exiting a parking lot in the 75-6000 block of Kuakini Highway in Kailua-Kona. Upon stopping the vehicle, officers identified the operator, and sole occupant, as Daniel James Lemaire.
    Lemaire was arrested without incident and transported to the Kealakehe Police Station while Kona patrol officers continued their investigation and recovered the stolen vehicle.
    A search of the stolen vehicle was conducted later in the day on Friday, resulting in the recovery of 51.53 grams of methamphetamine, 29.35 grams of marijuana, a loaded semi-automatic rifle, 12 rounds of ammunition, and drug paraphernalia consistent with methamphetamine distribution.
    After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, police charged Lemaire Sunday morning, Sept. 10, with the following offenses: Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle; Permits to acquire; First-degree theft; Driving without a license; two counts of ownership/possession prohibited; Place to keep a loaded firearm. First-degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug; First-degree promoting a dangerous drug; Possession of a firearm with the intent to facilitate a felony drug offense; Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway; Second-degree promoting a detrimental drug; and Prohibited acts related to drug paraphernalia.
   Anyone with information about this case is encouraged to contact Kona patrol officer Justin Uresti, via email at Justin.Uresti@hawaiicounty.gov, or the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

5000 in the mail, 2,500 on the streets.
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