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Sunday, April 28, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs April 28, 2024

Keep Kaʻū Country
Nationally published illustrator John Inserra, who lives in Kaʻū and works internationally, released this depiction of folks who
vow to Keep Ka‘ū Country. Proponents and opponents of the proposed new development at Punalu‘u claim they want to Keep
Kaʻū Country. A public hearing on the issue is set for next Monday, May 6 at County Council Chambers in Hilo, 9 a.m.
Art by John Inserra

A county helicopter drops water on a fire in Ocean
View on Sunday. Photo by Amy James

A FIRE IN HAWAI‘I OCEAN VIEW ESTATES DREW FIREFIGHTERS AND HELICOPTERS TO DOUSE IT on Sunday afternoon. A report on the Ka‘ū Bulletin Board by Serafina Deegan said the fire broke out between Aloha and Coconut, the fire department staging just off Catamaran. 
    Deegan that before the fire, a person claimed to have seen federal unmarked cars coming down King Kam with a few officers in each car. Another reported forerunners on Hawai‘i Blvd. near KaiLoki's full of "extra suited up law enforcement" this morning. Deegan theorized: "So I'm thinking a warrant search, and/or bust, or a swat on a drug, and or theft ring house. People are surmising that there was a swat on a house. And the criminals set the house on fire. They thought they had the fire put out, but looks like it reignited. Someone is helping the firefighters said there’s no fire anymore just smoke on the ground and hotspots. Someone else said they’re gonna have firefighters overnight here to make sure it doesn't flare up again."
    Other Ocean View residents near the fire reported being evacuated from their homes and 'ohia trees burning.

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DUE TO A SHARP INCREASE IN EARTHQUAKES below the Upper East Rift Zone and Kīlauea summit, Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park has temporarily closed Hilina Pali Road from Chain of Craters Road. Permits for overnight use of the coastal backcountry, Nāpau campground and Pepeiao Cabin are temporarily suspended. Some 400 quakes a day have been recorded.
Many earthquakes are shown on this USGS image with the red
dots the most recent in the upper East Rift Zone and caldera.
    Kīlauea volcano is not erupting and most of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is open.
   USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory stated, "the significant increase in seismicity beneath the upper East Rift Zone and caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu that began April 27 is continuing with little change.
    Earthquakes are occurring at rates of 10-15 per hour, compared to 2-5 per hour before April 27." During a recent 24-hour period, over 250 earthquakes occurred beneath the upper East Rift Zone and about 50 beneath the southern end of Kīlauea caldera. The largest earthquakes were between magnitudes 2 and 3, but most were smaller than magnitude-2.
   According to USGS, "It is not possible to say with certainty if this increase in activity will lead to an eruption in the near future – or simply remain confined below ground. However, an eruption in Kīlauea’s summit region or beneath the upper East Rift Zone, within the park, is one potential outcome."
    Updates are being provided daily while the heightened state of unrest continues. Park management will reassess the temporary safety closures Monday and inform the public of any changes.
Check the USGS HVO website for updates: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/kilauea

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.

SUPPLIERS OF FRESH PRODUCE CAN SUBMIT BIDS BY MAY 4 TO VIBRANT HAWAI‘I. The food is for this summer's Kaukau 4 Keiki. Beginning Monday, June 17 and running through Friday, July 26, Vibrant Hawaiʻi will serve as Sponsor Agency for the USDA Summer Food Service Program, Kaukau 4 Keiki, for the County of Hawaiʻi. In partnership with 33 sites islandwide, including three in Kaʻū, this program aims to distribute breakfast and lunch food supplies to an estimated 5,070 keiki through the six-week program. Vendors can submit bids for the fresh produce and shelf stable food supplies. Download bid packet at