Friday, December 08, 2023

Kaʻū News Briefs December 8, 2023

Teresa Fitzgerald teaches music to children, held a Christmas in Kaʻū Concert, and begins classes again on Jan. 18 in Ocean 
View. She offers scholarships. Photo from Kaʻū Keiki Singers
A CHRISTMAS IN KAʻŪ CONCERT BY KAʻŪ KEIKI SINGERS AND TERESA'S MUSIC STUDIO brought the holiday spirit to Ocean View Community Center last weekend. The additional gift is that Teresa Fitzgerald is continuing her choir and classes on Jan. 18, offering scholarships.
Kaʻū Keiki Singers perform a Christmas in Kaʻū Concert in Ocean View.
Photo from Kaʻū Keiki Singers
    Anyone age 4-18 can join. No experience is necessary. She said. "We start with the basics and work our way up. We learn rhythm, pitch matching, reading music, harmony, and proper singing techniques and have fun doing it. The choir meets every Thursday afternoon during the spring and fall and performs two Christmas and two spring concerts every year, one at OV Community Center and one at St Jude's Episcopal Church, "who kindly lets us rehearse at their church for free." Spring rehearsals begin Jan. 18. 
    The fee for the choir is $10 per class but she offers scholarships to anyone in need. She also teaches private piano and voice classes. Five of her piano students played solos during the concert.
    "I just want to bring as many Keiki together as possible in a positive environment while share my passion with them," said Fitzgerald. "I take suggestions from the kids on songs they would like to learn. I always incorporate at least one song to allow the kids the opportunity to sing a short solo. We are non-denominational and sing songs from a variety of traditions."
A young pianist who learns music in Ocean View from Teresa Fitzgerald.
Photo from Kaʻū Keiki Singers
     Fitzgerald is the Director and her husband Gannon Fitzgerald helps move equipment and runs sound at the performances. Teresa Fitzgerald said that most of her experience occurred in Salt Lake City, Utah, where she sang and was Assistant Director, semi-professionally.
     "I've worked with numerous famous directors and musicians John Williams, Garison Keeler, Kurt Bestor and more. I sang at numerous venues during the 2002 Winter Olympics including the opening ceremonies. And I've performed and prepped children's choirs to sing for people like the Dali Lama, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and countless dignitaries.
     However, 11 years ago her family moved to Ocean View to get away from the stress of the "real world." After battling stage four breast cancer for five years, she  said, "I decided I couldn't wait to follow my dreams any longer so I started the choir."
    Fitzgerald said, "Christmas in Kaʻū was a great concert performing for a full house with wonderful audience participation and support."
    People interested in signing up their Keiki for classes, the choir and receiving scholarships can contact Teresa Fitzgerald at kaukeikisingers@gmail.com.


A STUDENT K-12 SHOWCASE AT KAʻŪ HIGH & PĀHALA ELEMENTARY will be held for the first time, next Wednesday, Dec. 13. The statement from the school says, "This is an opportunity for our students to demonstrate what they have been learning, and provide our community partners an opportunity to connect with and encourage our students and teachers to continue to strive for excellence. The timing is
See https://www.ncacinc.com/
from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for grades 7 - 12 and 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for grades K-6. Park. Check in is at District Gym Multipurpose Room.
    The school statement says, "We have been working very diligently on increasing student engagement through real-world, community-connected, and college/career opportunities, and also on our student academic growth, which has been steadily improving. Creating opportunities for our students to share their learning with their community is an important part of our school transformation to become the first National Career Academy Coalition certified K-12 College/Career Academy school in the nation." See https://www.ncacinc.com/."
      Community members and partners are invited to sign up to visit with students and teachers. The school statement says that many attending will "help make this a dynamic and positive event for our students and teachers." Representatives of area businesses and non profits, health care providers, government agencies and others who support better education in Kaʻū are invited. It says the students "have been working hard to prepare for their Showcase. If you are able to come and support, we would really appreciate your time and efforts. Additionally, please feel free to forward this request to other members of your organization, or other community members that may be interested in participating."
   The school statement says that the learning intentions for the Showcase are to:
    Provide students an opportunity to practice their presentation skills and demonstrate their learning.
    Create opportunities for students to share their class projects with other students, community partners, and family.
    Build pride in our students, school, and community by showcasing various student and school projects done in collaboration with the community such as project-based learning, technology integration, and other real-world projects.
    Practice and prepare for Capstone presentations in grades 6, 8, and 12 starting in Spring SY24-25.    
    To RSVP, see the Google Form. Those with questions, can contact Jennifer Makuakane at 808-313-4141 or jennifer.makuakane@k12.hi.us.


Teams remove fountain survey and control fountain grass, this week in the Great Crack area of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park.
Photo from NPS

FLIGHT OPERATIONS BY HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK continue following missions on Dec. 5 and 7 in the morning for ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel) monitoring on Mauna Loa between 4,000- 9,000-ft. elevation. On Dec.7 the Park made flights to survey and control invasive fountain grass in the new Great Crack parcel at 500-ft. elevation.
Next Monday Hawai'i Volcanoes will fly in a crew
 to set up a spike camp to control invasive faya trees
 along Pepeiao Trail at 2,100- ft. elevation.
Photo from DLNR
    On Monday, Dec. 11 and Thursday, Dec. 14 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. the Park plans to transport camp gear and supplies from the end of Hilina Pali Road to a spike camp along Pepeiao Trail to support survey and control of invasive faya tree at 2,100- ft. elevation.
    On Wednesday, Dec. 13 and Thursday, Dec. 14 between 6:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. flights are planned for ʻuaʻu (Hawaiian petrel) monitoring on Mauna Loa. between 4,000-9000 ft. elevation.
    USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory may conduct additional flight operations over Kīlauea and Mauna Loa to assess volcanic activity and maintain instrumentation.
The Park statement says it "regrets any noise impact to residents and park visitors. Dates and times are subject to change based on aircraft availability and weather.
"Management of the park requires the use of aircraft to monitor and research volcanic activity, conduct search-and-rescue missions and law enforcement operations, support management of natural and cultural resources, and to maintain backcountry facilities."


JANUARY WILL BE VOLCANO AWARENESS MONTH and this week's Volcano Watch reveals the schedule of "opportunities to learn about the volcanoes in your backyard." Volcano Watch is a weekly article and activity update written by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:
    Volcanoes are a part of life for Hawaii residents. We live on the flanks, feeling earthquakes beneath our feet, smelling vog, and experiencing the effects of eruptions. It's important to keep up awareness of the types of volcanic activity and associated hazards possible in Hawaii nei. During January 2024, join us at a Volcano Awareness Month program to learn something new about the volcanoes in our backyard! 
Color photograph of erupting lava
Vigorous fountaining within Kīlauea caldera was visible from near the Uēkahuna overlook in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park during the most recent Kīlauea summit eruption in September 2023. USGS image by M. Patrick

    Volcano Awareness Month on the Island of Hawai'i is spearheaded by the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. We partner with Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, the University of Hawai'i at Hilo (UHH), the County of Hawai'i Civil Defense Agency, and other organizations to deliver a range of talks and guided walks for residents and visitors to learn more about the volcanoes in Hawaii. So far in 2023, there were three eruptions at the summit of Kīlauea. Since the beginning of Oct. 2023, an intrusion in the region southwest of Kīlauea's summit has been causing pulses of increased earthquakes and rates of ground deformation as magma moves below the surface. HVO is closely monitoring this region, watching for signs of potential eruptive activity. 
    If you'd like to learn more about Kīlauea activity, join us at After Dark in the Park Programs in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on Jan. 9, 16, and 23. Programs will summarize the recent crater-filling summit eruptions, past eruptions near the summit of Kīlauea, and past Southwest Rift Zone eruptions. Another After Dark in the Park program on Jan. 30 will summarize the Mauna Loa 2022 eruption and monitoring observations over the past year. Additional talks are being offered at other locations around the Island of Hawai'i in January as part of Volcano Awareness Month. Talks at UHH on Jan. 17 and 31 will describe collaborative work between HVO and UHH to analyze lava samples and HVO's work to monitor volcanoes in American Samoa. A talk at Pāhala Community Center on January 18 will summarize what we've learned about the ongoing earthquake swarm deep beneath that area, which has generated over 250 felt earthquakes since 2019!
Color image of a calendar of events
Island of Hawaiʻi Volcano Awareness Month programs scheduled throughout the month of January 2024. See https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/announcing-island-hawaii-volcano-awareness-month-programs-january-2024 for details on these talks, walks, and talk story events.
    On Jan. 19, come to the Pāhoa Lava Zone Museum to learn about the methods that HVO uses to map eruptions, or on Jan. 25, you can listen to a talk at the Kailua Public Library about how earthquakes are used to monitor volcanoes. Lastly, come sip on coffee at the Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park on Jan. 27 while attending a presentation on the destructive sequence of events that occurred on Mauna Loa in 1868.
    If you prefer the outdoors, several guided walks are being offered throughout the month of January. Learn the history of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park's Kahuku Unit during a guided walk on January 7. In Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, trek the Kīlauea Iki and Maunaulu trails with guides on Jan. 13 and
Pu'u o Kulana view of Kaʻū from Kahuku Unit of Hawai'i Volcanoes
 National Park. A guided hike is Jan. 28. NPS Photo
20, respectively, to learn about those eruptions. Hike through Ha'akulamanu (Sulphur Banks Trail) on Jan, 27 to see volcanic degassing at Kīlauea and hear how HVO measures volcanic gas emissions, which can cause vog (volcanic air pollution) downwind. Head back to the Kahuku Unit on Jan. 28 to hike Pu'u o Lokuana and learn about the cinder cone as you admire the beautiful view of Kaʻū from the top (if the weather is clear!).
    We'll also be hosting tables for several hours at the Nāʻālehu Library on Jan. 10 and the Hawaii Keiki Museum on Jan. 15, where you can come a talk story with HVO staff. We can answer questions you might have about recent eruptions, how HVO monitors volcanoes, volcanic hazards that might impact you, and more. We'll also have resources for you to take home and browse there, if you prefer.
    Hawai'i's volcanoes are dynamic; with their constant change comes opportunities to learn and better prepare for events that might impact residents. We hope to see you at a Volcano Awareness Month program this January! A calendar with descriptions of all Volcano Awareness Month 2024 programs is provided on HVO's website (https://www.usgs.gov/observatories/hvo/news/announcing-island-hawaii-volcano-awareness-month-programs-january-2024). Questions about Hawaii's volcanoes or Volcano Awareness Month can be emailed to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
The unrest associated with the intrusion that began in early October southwest of Kīlauea's summit continues. Elevated earthquake activity has continued in the Southwest Rift Zone, summit, and upper East Rift Zone over the last week, with earthquakes swarms December 1, 2, and December 7. Unrest may
Kīlauea eruption stopped on Sept. 17 but may resume soon.
USGS photo
continue to wax and wane with changes to the input of magma into the area and eruptive activity could occur in the near future with little or no warning. The most recent sulfur dioxide (SO2) emission rate for the summit—approximately 70 tonnes per day—was measured on December 5.
    Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity increased slightly at the beginning of November but returned to low levels in the weeks since then. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.
    Four earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the week ending Dec. 5.: a M4.4 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) ESE of Volcano at 23 km (14 mi) depth on Dec. 6 at 5:16 p.m. HST, a M3.1 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) SSE of Volcano at 1 km (1 mi) depth on Dec. 4 at 5:58 p.m. HST, a M5.1 earthquake 13 km (8 mi) SSE of Volcano at 2 km (1 mi) depth on Dec. 4 at 5:53 p.m. HST, and a M2.2 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) ESE of Waikoloa at 3 km (1 mi) depth on Dec. 4 at 4:35 p.m. HST.





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