Kaʻū News Briefs March 30 , 2024

Halau Hula O Leionalani, under Kumu Debbie Ryder, opened Merrie Monarch week on Sunday. Photo by Tim Wright

Dancers from Halau Hula O Leionalani, of  Kaʻū, will perform 
Wednesday and Saturday during Merrie Monarch festivities.
Photo by Tim Wright

HALAU HULA O LEONALANI traveled to Hilo to perform at the opening of the Merrie Monarch on Sunday at the Afook-Chinen Civic Civic Auditorium. The halau from Pahala under the leadership of Kumu Debie Ryder will perform on Wednesday, April 3 at Hilo Hawaiian Hotel at 1 p.m., and on Saturday, April 6 at noon at Hilo Hawaiian.
    Halau Hula O Leionalani is fundraising for a visit to Mexico and leaves April 23, flying to Honolulu to Houston and Cancun for a six day stay. The halau will perform at Riviera Maya Splash resort and also participate in workshops with the kumu's students from Mexico and Japan. The Mexican and Japanese halau will compete in Cancoon. Hawaiian musician Lorna Lim will teach in the workshops with Ryder.

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Kaunāmano is the Ka'u Coast lands where Nohopapa Hawai'i is gathering public input and
other information to help make a stewardship plan for the 1,363 acres. Photo from Ala Kahakai Trail Association

COMMUNITY MEMBERS ARE INVITED TO DISCUSS STEWARDSHIP PLANS FOR KAUNĀMANO on the Kaʻū Coast. The meeting will be Saturday, April 20 at Kahuku Ranch Cabins, Koa Building from 10 a.m. to noon. Nohopapa Hawai'i is conducting the session.

    Kaunāmano is the 1,363 acre property located makai of Hwy 11 between Pohina Pali and Maniania Pali. It is preserved through County of Hawai‘i's Public Access, Open Space & Natural Resources Preservation Commission program. Called PONC, it contributed $4.31 million, and the State Legacy Land

Conservation Program contributed $2.4 million toward the conservation purchase. The land is held by the

Ala Kahakai Trail Association. The property is encumbered by a perpetual conservation easement owned by the County of Hawai‘i restricting the land to cultural, conservation, and agricultural uses, as well as a permanent deed restriction required by the Legacy Land Program. See more on Ala Kahakai Trail Association at alakahakaitrail.org. 

    Nohopapa Hawai'i is a Native Hawaiian owned and operated cultural resource management firm founded in 2013. It has been contracted to help gather community input and help to design the stewardship plan for Kaunamano, which is held in trust for the public by the Alakai Kai Trail Association.

   The purpose of the Talk Story, according to a statement from Nohopapa Hawai'i, is to share background information on the process and schedule for the Stewardship Plan. "Gather your mana'o on the cultural

and natural resources to preserve and protect

Kaunāmano. Share areas of potential concern relating to the resources. "Share your man'o on opportunities for future stewardship."

    "Nohopapa Hawaiʻi’s experience, passion, commitment, and motivation to document and honor Hawaiʻi’s wahi kūpuna extends over 20 years. Our platform is to increase awareness of our collective responsibility to document, preserve, and protect knowledge concerning historic properties and cultural resources. We research and gather this knowledge through integrated approaches rooted in historical land research and cultural understanding of place." says its message at www.nohopapa.com.

    Projects on this island have included archaeological investigations and restoration plans in Keauhou, Kona amd a Comprehensive Management Plan for Office of Hawaiian Affairs' 25,856-acre Wao Kele O Puna, one of the last lowland rainforests in Hawai'i. See more at nohopapa.com.

    Entrance to Kahuku Ranch is at 92-7406 Mamalahoa Hwy. With any questions, contact info@ohopapa.org.

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KAʻŪ COFFEE FESTIVAL SIGNUPS BEGIN MONDAY, APRIL FIRST for all those who would like a booth at the Ho'olaulea on Saturday, June 8. Volunteers to help with the festival that runs from June 1-8 are also welcomed. For booths, see www.kaucoffeefest.com. 

Kaʻū News Briefs March 30 , 2024

Dr. Kimo Alameda with a Keep  Kaʻū Country sign on March 7, came to  Kaʻū on Thursday to
talk about his candidacy for mayor. Photo from Kimo4mayor.com

 DR. KIMO ALAMEDA CAME TO KAʻŪ on Thursday in his bid for Mayor of Hawai'i Island. In a presentation called Pāhala - Lean on Me, he talked about his style of governance including open and frequent communication with the community, as well as running government more like a business with responsibility to taxpayers. He noted he has never run for public office but has managed county departments and also the largest non-profit health care entity on this island. He described himself as
making fact based decisions and being competent at research.
    He talked about the "almost homeless" to include kupuna whose rent and even hikes in property taxes can lead to departure from their homes. Veterans with. PTSD and women victims of domestic violence often have no place to go. He described foster kids who "age out" as the next homeless. Alameda, who ran the office of Aging in county government and was CEO of the Bay Clinic and is PhD. trained in mental health, said "I have experience to help these people."
    He said the island homelessness "reflects society's shortcomings.: On this island, said Alameda, there is no good mental health system, no good rehabilitation and detox facility." He said he opposes police sweeps of homeless camps without having a place to go. He said clearing people from one place just leads them to go to another place without solving the problem. He noted that there are different types of homeless people, including those with mental health problems, those with drug and alcohol problems and those who simply cannot find a dwelling with the income they have.

Dr. Kimo Alameda in Pāhala on Thursday to talk about his run for mayor. Photo by Julia Neal

   Regarding drugs and alcohol programs, he said the solution is education and reducing demand. He said that with his own children he advises them about the gateway drug of alcohol and described warning signs and several conditions. "You like it" - not so bad, can have some fun. "You want it" - that's the next step, 
so take notice. "You need it" - time to get help.
    Regarding producing more homes on the island, he said there is a need to allow people to build more units on property they already own and said that two additional dwellings could mean one for a farm worker and one for a young couple or a kupuna. It would keep the income from these units in the family.
    One kupuna said he worried that Pāhala would become like Papaikou north of Hilo and said almost all of the old plantation houses there have been sold to people from the outside who have more money, with rocketing prices making it impossible for the next local generation to purchase home for their families.  
    Alameda said he would consider a cap or property tax exemption for kupuna to keep them in their homes.

Dr. Kimo Alameda with his wife and family of seven children.
Photo from kimo4mayor.com

 Regarding appointment of department heads for county government, Alameda said that should he become mayor, he would make sure that the leaders are not only qualified to run county like a business, but also are connected to the community. "I'm not looking for one director to come here fo one four year vacation." He said that in order to find out whether someone loves this place and is committed to this place, ask where the person wants to die. Alameda focused on his background of being born here, having raised seven children here and wanting to die here.

    Former County Councilmember Guy Enriques, of Punalu'u, brought up the issue of the proposal to build 125 accommodations and commercial enterprise at Punalu'u and said that Alameda tepped up to listen to the community's concern about possible overdevelopment of the coast. Alameda said he opposed irresponsible development and questioned the development's alignment with the Ka'u Community Development Plan.
    Amery Silva, a former Miss Kaʻū Coffee and Pāhala resident, said she objected to people moving in and complaining about the lifestyle here and calling the police about noise. "We fish, hunt, raise chickens and dogs."
    Otis Salmo, of Pāhala, brought up the school bus problem, particularly in Ocean View and Alameda said the lack of timely transportation for students was "unacceptable" and that perhaps the county's Hele On free bus system could help more.
    Another concern brought up by a local resident is lighting in the streets. A woman said that streetlights should be brighter. Alameda said the dimming of lights to protect stargazing had gone too far.
    The candidate said that a number of challenges brought up by people who attended the meeting were state and federal issues, like repairs to Hwy 11 and more school buses. He said he would use his "bully pulpit" as mayor to work with government agencies beyond the county.
See more on Alameda and his run for mayor at kimo4mayor.com.

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Sen. Mazie Hirono with the release of the Patsy Mink quarter from the U.S. Mint, honoring
U.S. House of Representatives member who was the first woman of color in Congress and author
of Title IX, which helped to launch gender equity in education and sports. Photo from Hirono

THE PATSY T. MINK QUARTER was released by the U.S. Mint this week, celebrating the life of the first woman of color to serve in Congress. Sen. Mazie K. Hirono made the announcement with University of Hawaii President David Lassner, Hawai'i Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi, and community advocates for gender equity to highlight Mink's legacy as the author of Title IX, and the ongoing importance of gender equity in education.
    "As the first woman of color to serve in Congress, Patsy Mink was a trailblazer who fought to ensure

Patsy Mink quarters are available in rolls
and bags, as well as proof sets.

that generations of girls and women could have every opportunity men have," said Hirono. "Congresswoman Mink's legacy lives on through Title IX, the landmark legislation she authored to outlaw sex-based discrimination in education. As we work to build on the progress she made, I am proud to announce the launch of this quarter honoring Patsy and her legacy, so that people across our state and country can learn more about her life and contributions to the fight for social justice, equality, and civil rights."
    In 2021, Hirono sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urging the Mint to include the late Congresswoman Mink in the American Women Quarters Program. She also advocated for a quarter commemorating Edith Kanakaole, which was put into circulation last year.
    Patsy T. Mink quarters are now available for purchase on the U.S. Mint's website. More information is available here.
    Authorized by the Circulating Collectible Coin Redesign Act of 2020, the American Women Quarters Program features coins with designs emblematic of the accomplishments and contributions of prominent American women. Contributions come from a wide spectrum of fields including, but not limited to, suffrage, civil rights, abolition, government, humanities, science, space, and the arts. The women honored come from ethnically, racially, and geographically diverse backgrounds. The Mint will issue five coins with different reverse designs annually over the four-year period from 2022 through 2025.

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Kaʻū News Briefs March 29, 2024

Mother and calf in Hawaiian waters where the last 2024 Ocean Count for humpback whales will
be taken by volunteers this Saturday, the Kaʻū location at Punalu'u. NOAA photo

THE LAST HUMPBACK WHALE OCEAN COUNT FOR 2024 is Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Punalu'u and other locations around the island. Participants tally humpback whale sightings and document their surface behavior. The Count is sponsored by NOAA.

        NOAA's Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary Advisory Council will hold a virtual meeting on Friday, April 12 from 10 a.m to 1:30 p.m. The meeting is open to the public, with public comment scheduled at 12:15 p.m. Members of the public interested in attending or providing public comment can fill out this registration form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfpTBiBqvGUQIQuD9k8cRaNyn-wuZDMzG1Mj6qo_-6LMT2HFw/viewform to receive the Google Meet information.

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IKAIKA KAILIAWA-SMITH is running for the District 6 County Council seat, to represent all of Kaʻū and adjacent parts of Kona and Puna. The 32-year old Nāʻālehu resident is a rancher and full time county welder and mechanic. He said he would like to see working people, like those in the trades, "who know how to get things done," take jobs in public office. He said a lot of money can be saved and red tape cut by putting the right people with his kind of background in public office and county administration.

Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith seeks a first term on the County Council.
Photo from Kailiawa-Smith campaign

    He gave the example of a ramp at the Waiohinu Transfer station. He said he was able to save thousands of dollars for the county and much time for the public by building it himself. He promised to fix the lights in the ballfields in Pāhala and Nāʻālehu and put in lighting in the Ocean View county park.
    Kailiawa-Smith joined the military right after high school and came home to  Kaʻū in recent years with his wife who also grew up on this island, and their four children. He said he and his family would like to fight to keep young local families in Kaʻū from having to leave the island, by creating economic opportunity and affordable housing. He said his platform aligns with community concerns about sustainable agriculture and food production.
    The candidate said he is dedicated to addressing food security issues and lowering costs for residents by promoting local egg production and dairy farming. He said he supports construction of slaughter facilities for livestock and poultry to help lower food costs and promote local farming.
    Kailiawa-Smith said he recognizes the financial struggles faced by retired individuals and is committed to removing property taxes for retirees on a fixed income. "This initiative aims to provide financial relief to those who have contributed to society for many years."
    Concerning public safety, Kailiawa-Smith said he plans to address the issue of violent criminals and mentally unstable individuals on the streets "by implementing measures to remove them from communities." He said he supports the construction of sub stations for police and fire departments to improve response times and overall safety for residents.
    Kailiawa-Smith took a strong stand at the recent public hearing on the development proposal at Punalu'u. His position was carried by Hawai'i Public Radio. He said his opposition "stems from a history of extractive developers using the land for profit. When C. Brewer developed Punaluʻu as a playground for the rich, they bulldozed graves, ancient home sites and heiau. When they extracted all the wealth that they could out of Kaʻū and its people, they left a mess in their wake. They left asbestos-built huts, gravel-filled ponds, and a leaking sewage system. Now this foreign developer wants us to ignore all of this. We cannot in good conscience allow this development to continue."
    He said that while the proposed 125 accommodation units have been pushed back to about a quarter mile from the coast, he could not support the Punalu'u proposal with restaurant, market and other activities near the shore.
    A statement from his campaign says, "Overall, Ikaika Kailiawa-Smith is dedicated to making positive changes in Hawai'i by addressing important issues like food security, taxes, public safety, and government accountability. His commitment to these causes makes him a strong candidate for office."

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See https://www.kaunews.com/naalehu-environmental-assessment-consultation-packet

PUBLIC INPUT ON THE PROPOSED SEWAGE TREATMENT PLAN FOR NA'ALEHU is sought by the consulting planning and engineering company Wilson Okamoto Corp.
    An announcement Friday says, "On behalf of the County of Hawai'i – Department of Environmental Management, Wilson Okamoto Corp. is currently preparing a Draft Environmental Information Document (EID) and Environmental Assessment (ES) for the proposed Nāʻālehu Large Capacity Cesspool (LCC) Closure project (Proposed Project) located in the Ka'ū District on the island of Hawai'i.

    "The Proposed Project involves the construction of facilities which would allow the County to close the three LCCs in Nāʻālehu and thereby meet the compliance requirements of the Amended AOC and the applicable portions of the Clean Water Act. The Proposed Action would be achieved by any of the 4 alternatives set forth in the Amended AOC.    The proposed Project Area includes approximately 204 discrete tax parcels (in whole or in part) and portions of multiple County of Hawai'i roadways in Nāʻālehu."
    Read the document at https://www.kaunews.com/naalehu-environmental-assessment-consultation-packet

    Submit comments via email to publiccomment@wilsonokamoto.com, or written comments via mail to: Keola Cheng, Director-Planning, Wilson Okamoto Corporation, 1907 South Beretania Street, Suite 400, Honolulu, Hawai'i 96826.

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HOW WE MEET MATTERS: RESOLVING DISPUTES VIA CHAT is the free talk on Thursday, April 18 sponsored by Ku'ikahi Mediation Ceter for its program Finding Solutions, Growing Peace. The Brown

Bag Lunch Series are Third Thursdays from noon to 1 pm via Zoom.
    The April speaker is Dr. Deborah Goldfarb who said, "Dispute resolution is increasingly moving online, with discussions that AI may be the better method to resolve disputes. Let's explore examples from recent research about people's preferences regarding resolving disputes."
    Participants will discuss how the relationship between parties may influence the parties' choice of how to resolve disputes as well as the best methods for resolving difficult issues.
    Goldfarb, JD, PhD, is a legal psychology professor at Florida International University. She holds a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Goldfarb practiced for a number of years as an attorney, including as a law clerk in the federal courts, and is a certified mediator in Florida. She studies a number of topics at the intersection of law and developmental psychology.
    Ku'ikahi's Brown Bag Lunch Series is free and open to the public. Attendees are encouraged to enjoy an informal and educational talk-story session and connect with others interested in Finding Solutions, Growing Peace.
    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.
    This lunch-and-learn series is made possible thanks in part to funding from the County of Hawai'i and Hawai'i Island United Way.

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Kaʻū News Briefs March 28, 2024

 Kaʻū High students are learning to become Student Resource Ambassadors. See more below. Photo by Jennifer Makuakane

COUNTY COUNCIL MEMBER MICHELLE GALIMBA has announced her bid for reelection. She issued the following statement:

    "I would like to announce that I will be seeking re-election for the Hawaiʻi County District 6 County Council seat for the 2024-2026 term. It has been a privilege and honor to serve as the County Councilmember for our District for the past year.
    "I love the un-spoiled natural and cultural beauty of our district: its wide-open spaces; its farms and ranches; its rocky coastline and pristine waters; its tight-knit, deep-rooted communities; and the richness of place - both in present time and in the traces of the past - that makes living in our district so unique and profound an experience. To serve this place and its people by advocating for our interests at the County government and by ensuring that our perspective is represented at the County Council is the reason I sought election two years ago and is the reason I seek re-election for the next two year term.
    "I have learned a lot about the specific needs of the many communities in our far-flung district - stretching from the rain-forests of Volcano Village to the southern tip of our island at Ka Lae to the fishing villages of South Kona. Ours is a diverse district - and island - but we share many common concerns. Safe, decent housing that is affordable and accessible for working people, as well as for our young people and kupuna is one of those common and critical concerns. I am proud to say that in the past term, the County Council has authorized the allocation of over $15 million in funding to affordable housing projects around the island.

Michelle Galimba seeks second term on the County Council.
Photo from votegalimba.com

    "Another critical concern in our district is public safety. I have advocated for increased public safety resources for our district, especially for the fast-growing community of Ocean View, including increased police presence and, in the long run, a fully-staffed police station.
    "Another key area of public safety is animal control. Unfortunately our island suffered a breakdown in its animal control services in 2020. The tragic mauling death of one of our community members last year underlined the gravity of the situation. It has been and will continue to be a long road to get our animal control services back on track. Early last year, the Council established the Animal Control and Protection Agency. I have been working closely with the new Administrator of the Agency to ensure that animal control officers are deployed in our district, and to establish an Animal Control and Protection Agency base of operations in our District, so that officers and facilities will be available to address our animal control needs in a timely and accessible manner.
    "With the recent application by Black Sands LLC for a Special Management Area permit for Punaluʻu, the future of this beloved place has again become the subject of intense discussion for our community. As for so many, Punaluʻu is a place entwined with my life from early childhood onward. The importance of protecting the natural and cultural heritage of Punaluʻu - and other sites in our District - is unquestionable. It is also critically important that all voices be heard in the discussion about the future of Punaluʻu. This is a place with a complex history and present. Finding our way to the best possible future for Punaluʻu will not be simple, and we need to hear each other with respect and aloha. Having served for many years on the Kaʻū Community Development Plan (CDP) Steering Committee, I am glad to see that the CDP is an important part of the discussion and the framework for the future of Punaluʻu. I also support the work that the members of the Kaʻū CDP Action Committee are doing to create an ongoing space for bringing the ideas and aspirations of the Kaʻū CDP forward into fruition.
    "Supporting our communities by advocating for the repair and maintenance of our parks and other recreational facilities has been a priority for me during the last year, as well as working with the Department of Environmental Management and the Department of Public Works to address the problem of abandoned cars and other trash issues in public areas.
    "I humbly ask for your vote so that I can continue to serve our communities, district and island. If you would like to learn more about my background, values, and vision, please visit my website at https://votegalimba.com/."

    

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KAʻŪ STUDENTS WILL RECEIVE TRAINING IN RECYCLING EDUCATION & OUTREACH TO THE COMMUNITY over the next three years to become Student Resource Ambassadors. Three cohorts of 20 students each are offered training for Hawaiʻi Youth Clean Stream Campaign & Waste-to-Wealth Initiative, with support of $1.5 million from an EPA Recycling Education & Outreach grant. Some training sessions offer stipends. The program is for students in ninth through 12th grades, with preference given to sophomores and juniors.

    Partners are Recycle Hawai'i and Kaʻū Global Learning Lab Academy and its Principal 'Aina Akamu at Kaʻū High & Elementary School. The Recycle Hawai'i Director for this program is Justin Canelas.

     Student Resource Ambassadors in the first cohort are set to begin their journey on June 1. Application deadline for students to enroll for Fall is July 31. To sign up with the Program Coordinator, contact Jennifer.Makuakane@k12.hi.us or 808-313-4141.

    A kick-off event featuring students enrolled in the program is planned for Saturday, April 27, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Pāhala Plantation House. Community members will have an opportunity to discuss the program with grant partners, elected leaders, and participants. 

    "The three-year project will focus on fostering the development of leadership skills among Kaʻū youth through community-based education campaigns that promote composting, raise awareness about plastic pollution, and inform the public about ongoing recycling opportunities created by the students in the program," says a statement from the partners.

    "This initiative aims to embed environmental justice principles into programs designed to reduce landfill waste on Hawaiʻi Island, while empowering youth-led community action." It features the addition of community coordinators proficient in Marshallese and Hawaiian languages facilitating outreach and engagement in Kaʻū and on the Big Island. Hiring for these positions begins this Summer.

    "This initiative represents a significant step forward in promoting environmental justice and empowering youth voices in our community," said Akamu. "By incorporating indigenous knowledge and reaching out to underserved populations, we are ensuring that all members of our community have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from these environmental initiatives."

    Canelas said, "We aim to empower the youth of Hawaiʻi Island to become environmental stewards and champions of waste reduction. By engaging students in hands-on learning experiences and providing them with the tools and resources to effect change in their communities, we are fostering a generation of local leaders committed to environmental sustainability."

    Here is more from the program announcement:  
    Each cohort of Student Resource Ambassadors will embark on a year-long journey immersed in educational programming focused on waste reduction themes. Year one will concentrate on composting, year two on marine debris and plastic pollution, and year three on clean stream recycling and waste-to-

wealth circularity. These themes will culminate in the launching of local educational campaigns aimed at increasing awareness and participation in community-based recycling and composting programs.
    A sub-cohort of Student Resource Ambassadors will participate in the Creative Content Summer Fellowship, where they will undergo intensive training to develop marketing skills and further the program's goals during the summer break. This fellowship will equip participants with professional-level skills in data analysis, audio-visual production, conference organization and program impact tracking. The SRAs also receive high school credits and paid stipends by participating in the program.
   During the first year, Student Resource Ambassadors will travel to Cooperstown, NY, Nov. 19-24, for the National Recycling Congress

to engage with leaders in the sustainability field and present the educational campaigns they’ve developed. In spring of 2025, the SRAs will travel to San Francisco to attend the Zero Waste Youth Convergence to network with other youth in the national zero waste program, and develop the skills to host their own Zero Waste Youth Convergences in Kaʻū in 2026 and 2027. In the spring of 2026, the student cohort from Kaʻū High will host a local Zero Waste Youth Convergence conference for local Hawai'i youth. 

    Student Resource Ambassadors will also prepare for hosting the National Zero Waste Youth Convergence in 2027, featuring speakers and youth participants from across the country.
    For more information about the Hawaiʻi Youth Clean Stream Campaign and Waste-to-Wealth Initiative,  contact Justin Canelas - the EPA Recycle Education Outreach Program Director at Recycle Hawaii - via email: program@recyclehawaii.org.

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The former Jaggar Museum, and two buildings operated by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, the Okamura Building and the Geochemistry Annex, are slated for removal starting Monday, April 8. Restrooms at Uēkahuna will temporarily close for the duration of the deconstruction project. Portable lua (restrooms) will be available. Ranger programs will continue. 

Photo by Janice Wei/ National Park Service

THREE BUILDINGS WILL BE DISMANTLED AT HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK starting Monday, April 8. They sustained damage during the 2018 summit collapse and eruption of Kīlauea volcano.    What: The removal of the former Jaggar Museum, and two buildings used by the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (USGS HVO), the Okamura Building and the Geochemistry Annex. The restrooms at Uēkahuna will temporarily close for the duration of the deconstruction project. Portable lua (restrooms) will be available and ranger programs will continue.    When: Dismantling of the exterior walls and roofs begins Monday, April 8, and will continue for the next several months. The buildings will be deconstructed one section at a time. Work will likely begin on the north side of the Okamura Building and Observation Tower then proceed to Jaggar Museum and the Geochemistry Annex.     Where: Uēkahuna bluff, at the summit of Kīlauea volcano in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.     Why: Work continues on Phase One of the Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park Disaster Recovery Project. The buildings were irreparably damaged during the 2018 eruption and summit collapse of Kīlauea volcano, the most destructive eruptive event in Hawai'i in more than 200 years. Construction has begun on the new USGS HVO field station near the historic ballfield at Kilauea Military Camp.     How to stay informed: Construction closures and delays are updated on the park's new construction webpage: https://www.nps.gov/havo/planyourvisit/construction-closures.htm. To read comments, add your own, and like this story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. See 7,500 copies the mail and on stands. USING ACOUSTIC SIGNALS TO ID THE START OF MAUNA LOA'S ERUPTION in 2022 is the subject of this week's Volcano Watch, the weekly article and activity update by U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory scientists and affiliates:     The 2022 eruption of Mauna Loa occurred late in the evening of November 27th. The eruption was preceded by intense earthquake activity about half an hour prior to glowing lava seen on USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) webcams. How does HVO narrow down the precise time that the eruption started? Panel A is a thermal image showing first observation of strong 'lava glowing' at Mauna Loa, time-stamped 11:36 p.m. HST on November 27, 2022. An example waveform from  the array of sensors at the 'Āinapō (AIND) field station is shown in panel B. Coherency plots of wave velocities are shown in panel C and the direction of the computed eruption source compass direction, relative to the 'Āinapō array, is shown in panel D. The colored dots in panels C and D represent incoherent signals (shown in light and dark blue) and  coherent signals (shown in red, orange and yellow).  Times for panel B, C and D are  expressed in Hawaii Standard Time (HST).  The black vertical line in panels C and D  marks the early onset of the eruption at 11:23 p.m. HST. The grey vertical line shows the  time when the thermal image in panel A was taken.  Both of the vertical lines mark times before changes in the acoustic processing because it takes about 2 minutes for sound to  travel from the eruption vent to the 'Āinapō array. Image from USGS     Remote cameras are critical to confirm eruptive activity but, in many cases, worldwide, views of the activity can be obscured. Clouds, fog or volcanic gas can block views. Or cameras may not cover the eruption site. Hence, HVO and other global observatories establish numerous methods to attempt to identify eruption activity even if the volcano cannot be clearly seen.     One way to monitor volcanoes is by measuring the sounds of an eruption. These sounds can rapidly travel away from the eruption vent in the same way that a rock thrown into calm water can make ripples that move away from the "plop point."     The global volcano monitoring community routinely installs clusters of acoustic sensors (called arrays) on the flanks of volcanoes that can measure both the audible noise (sounds we can hear) and the inaudible noise which have frequencies that human ears can't sense (infrasound). Computer processing is then used to look for signals that come from a distinct direction, similar to the way humans train their ears and brains to determine where sounds come from.     HVO currently monitors our volcanoes using rapidly processed 'near real-time' data from acoustic arrays which measure pressure changes around our most active volcanoes, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa (figure panel B). The grouped sensor arrays are deployed in the field to allow computers to look for correlations in acoustic energy from Hawaii's likely eruption centers.     The processing compares all waveforms of the array and looks at consistency (called coherency) of the waves under a range of conditions. In the plots (figure panels C and D) strong waveform coherency are Annual Gravity Survey at Kīlauea A gravimeter was deployed on the floor of Kīlauea caldera last weekend  during the annual Kilauea gravity survey conducted by USGS Hawaiian Volcano  Observatory . Nearby is the GPS station. The gravimeter is the small, shoebox-sized  instrument, which can measure a change in the force of gravity to one-in-one  billionth of the force that humans  feel every day. USGS photo by A. Ellis marked by red and orange dots and incoherent waves are marked by light and dark blue. As an analogy, incoherent sounds are like the sounds you hear in the middle of a forest on a windy day and more coherent sound would be from a car honking on the road.     Coherent acoustic signals often have characteristics that allow them to be distinguished by the processing of array data, and two good indicators of coherency come from the wave speed and wave direction across the array. For example, near the surface of the Earth the sounds usually travel at speeds of about 0.3-0.4 km/s (~300-400 yards per second) (figure panel C). HVO's 'Āinapō infrasound array is located in the Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park and has a compass direction of about 300 degrees (figure panel D) pointing back to Mauna Loa summit. Automated detection can use these characteristics (coherency, wave speed and direction) to improve our ability to rapidly understand when an eruption is occurring at Mauna Loa summit.     Panel D of the figure shows that the compass back direction becomes very stable at about 11:25 p.m. HST which indicates that mild eruptive activity had started. Its timing was probably approximately two minutes earlier, at about 11:23 p.m. HST, given that it takes about 2 minutes for sound to travel from the summit of Mauna Loa to the 'Āinapō array (shown as a black vertical line in figure panels C and D.) Indeed, panel A of the figure shows that by 11:36 p.m. HST, lava flows being generated by the new eruption were rapidly expanding across Mokuʻāweoweo, Mauna Loa summit caldera (grey vertical line in C and D). The progression and expansion of the lava is followed by a strong intensification of that activity around 11:40 p.m. HST (C and D). This shows the value of using multiple lines of information to evaluate eruptive activity.     In addition to acoustic methods, staff at HVO utilize a full range of volcano monitoring methods including seismic, deformation, gas, and webcam imagery. The data collected improve our situational awareness; evaluating the different datasets together can help scientists to understand the volcanic processes happening at any one time. This, in turn, helps HVO to keep the public well-informed about our active volcanoes. Volcano Activity Updates: Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.     Disbursed seismicity continues below Kīlauea's summit and along the Koa'e fault system southwest of the caldera. Average earthquake counts in this region over the past week have remained below 40 detected events per day, well below the amount detected during the January–February intrusion or prior to recent summit eruptions. Tiltmeters near Sand Hill and Uēkahuna bluff continued to record modest inflationary trends over the past week. No unusual activity has been noted along the rift zones.     Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.     Webcams show no signs of activity on Mauna Loa. Summit seismicity has remained at low levels over the past month. Ground deformation indicates continuing slow inflation as magma replenishes the reservoir system following the 2022 eruption. SO2 emission rates are at background levels.     Two earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 10 km (6 mi) ENE of Pāhala at 33 km (20 mi) depth on March 23 at 9:06 p.m. HST and a M3.1 earthquake 2 km (1 mi) SSW of Pāhala at 32 km (20 mi) depth on March 22 at 9:45 p.m. HST.     HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

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