The Kaʻū Calendar News Briefs, Hawaiʻi Island: 06/01/2024

Friday, June 28, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs June 28, 2024

Parading for Independence Day

Last year's Nāʻālehu Independence Day Parade, sponsored by OKK, featured lei for horse and pāpale for paniolo,

a street-length gown to the road for Princess London Dacalio, accompanied by Justin Amarillo, Jr. They represented Ni'ihau

with the color white and adornment, the pūpū shell. This year's parade begins Saturday, June 29 at 11 a.m. Eight riding units

are expected to represent the islands. Photo by Lee McIntosh

MORE MENTAL HEALTH CARE TRAINING & SUPPORT BECAME LAW THIS WEEK. The Hawai'i Legislature passed Senate and House of Representatives bills to address mental health challenges and training for mental health care workers. Gov. Josh Green signed them into law.

SB 3139 creates a crisis intervention and diversion services program within the state Department of Health, aimed at steering individuals with mental health and substance use disorders away from the criminal justice system and toward appropriate health care services. “Through this bill, we affirm our commitment to a more humane and effective approach to addressing mental health crises in our communities. By prioritizing access to crisis intervention services, we can support individuals in need and foster healthier outcomes for everyone,” said the Governor.

HB 2159 amends Hawaiʻi’s mental health statutes, emphasizing enhanced support for individuals needing Assisted Community Treatment. This bill requires the Department of the Attorney General to assist in preparing and filing petitions for ACT, ensuring that individuals receive necessary psychiatric evaluations before discharge from psychiatric facilities, and allowing private petitioners the option to decline state assistance. These changes aim to streamline access to mental health services and divert individuals away from the criminal justice system, promoting a more compassionate and effective approach to mental health care in Hawaiʻi.
“By ensuring comprehensive support through assisted community treatment, we are prioritizing the well-being of individuals in crisis and reinforcing our commitment to compassionate care for all residents of Hawaiʻi,” said the Governor.
SB 3094 establishes a temporary peer support specialist working group within the Office of Wellness and Resilience to enhance the role and effectiveness of peer support specialists in Hawaiʻi. Peer support is recognized for its benefits in mental and behavioral health, as well as for individuals facing homelessness, substance abuse, and involvement in child welfare or justice systems.
“Creating the Office of Wellness and Resilience and establishing this working group are visionary steps toward a healthier, more resilient, and more supportive Hawaiʻi,” said the Governor. “Peer support specialists play a vital role in fostering recovery and resilience, and this legislation will strengthen our state’s mental health infrastructure.”

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

NEARLY 170 EARTHQUAKES WERE DETECTED beneath the summit of Kīlauea volcano during the 24 hours ending Friday at 7:58 a.m, according to the latest USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory report. The quakes occurred mostly below the south caldera region at depths of 1.5–3 km (1–1.8 mi). Thursday afternoon, a magnitude-2.9 event at 3:32 p.m. was followed three minutes later by a magnitude 3.4 event

at 3:35 p.m.; both occurred in the East Rift connector, southeast of Kaluapele (Kīlauea caldera), and were reported felt by residents of the Volcano community. These events kicked off a swarm of heightened seismic activity that lasted for approximately 90 minutes, but earthquake rates then returned to previous levels and no associated volcanic changes were detected.
USGS reported that rates of ground deformation at the summit gradually slowed. Despite fluctuations, the tiltmeter at Uēkahuna northwest of the summit only recorded approximately 1 microradian of net inflation, while the tiltmeter at Sand Hill southwest of the summit only recorded 2 microradians of more steady inflation. The most recent measurement of the summit's SO2 emission rate was approximately 50 tonnes per day on June 10, 2024; accordingly, total SO2 emissions from the summit and recent eruption site are likely less than 200 tonnes per day, according to the USGS report.

AN OFF DUTY PARAMEDIC HELPED WITH A RESCUE AT GREEN SAND BEACH on Thursday. Apparently a man in his 40s and woman in her 60s were rescued and cared for until a county helicopter transported them to a hospital. The man reportedly has a broken leg.

Volcanoes in the background and 'ohia all around,
during Volcano's 'Ohia Lehua Runs, Saturday, July 27
Photo from 'Ohia Lehua Runs

THE ANNUAL VOLCANO 'OHIA LEHUA RUNS, with a half marathon and 5k, will take participants into an 'ohia forest through Volcano Village on Saturday, July 27. The course heads up Wright Road with scenic views of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Registration is $100 for the half-marathon and $50 for the 5k through July 20 and $110 for the half and $60 for the 5k when picking up a packet July 25 or 26. To register and find out more, see https://www.ohialehuahalf.com/. People of all ages enter the events with the half drawing professional racers.

The races take place during Experience Volcano Hawai'i weekend of events.

COUNTY TRANSFER STATIONS will be open for normal operating hours on Thursday, July 4, except for scrap metal collection. That means in that Volcano and Wai'ōhinu will be open but will not be accepting scrap metal on July 4th as the vendor will be closed in observance of Independence Day.

Thursday, June 27, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs June 27, 2024

The Royal New Zealand Navy Polar-class auxiliary ship HMNZS Aotearoa is in Hawaiian waters to participate in Exercise Rim of the Pacific 2024 through Aug. 1. RIMPAC is the world's largest international maritime exercise and involves 28-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines,14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft, and 25,000 personnel. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.
U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Juan Cordova

PARTICIPANTS IN A PROTECTING OCEANIA HUI have issued an opposition statement to the ongoing Exercise Rim of the Pacific, which are maritime war games taking place in Hawaiian waters and on land through Aug. 1 with 29 nations participating. It is the 29th RIMPAC, which has happened every two years since 1971. Pohakuloa military training area along Saddle Road is often one of the war game sites.

Protecting Oceania was a gathering in association with the recent Festival of Pacific Arts and Culture with its theme Ho'oulu Lāhui: Regenerating Oceania. The gathering, based on O'ahu, included representatives of Pacific nations and organizations. Organizers included University of Hawai'i Center for Pacific Island Studies, U.H. Hawai'inuiakea School of Hawaiian Knowledge, Hawai'i Peace and Justice and Pacific Theological College. See a complete list of supporters of the opposition statement at https://ggjalliance.org/updates/cancel-rimpac-protecting-oceania-2024/

The group released the following after the Protecting Oceania sessions at FestPAC:
"As the members of Protecting Oceania, representing the peoples of Hawaiʻi, Aotearoa, West Papua, Papua New Guinea, Kanaky, Vanuatu, Fiji, Rotuma, Solomon Islands, First Nation peoples of Australia and the Torres Strait Islands, and South Sea Islanders, Guåhan and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Pohnpei, Palau, Banaba, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Liu Chiu and our allies.

"We stand together, in order to fulfill our sacred duty to be good ancestors, and firmly oppose the militarization of our islands and oceans. Specifically, we oppose the upcoming 29th Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercises that will be held from June 27th to August 1st in and around the Hawaiian Islands. These exercises threaten our sovereignties and our communities, human and other-than-human alike, here in Hawaiʻi, across Moananuiākea, and throughout the world.
"We oppose the biennial desecration of our sacred oceanic spaces by the 29 countries who will be playing war games during RIMPAC: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
"We are especially shocked by those countries who claim that they oppose genocide and who have vehemently taken positions against Israel’s genocide against the Palestinian people, specifically Brazil, Colombia, Chile, Mexico, Ecuador, Peru and Indonesia, who contradict there positions by coming to Hawaiʻi to play together at war. We call upon these nations in particular to pull your militaries from joining in these exercises. We also demand that Indonesia, who is committing genocide in West Papua not only cease its participation in these exercises, but we demand a Free and Independent West Papua. We also demand that France remove its colonial occupation of Kanaky.
"We oppose turning Hawaiʻi’s lands and waters into training grounds for imperial and genocidal regimes that will engage in ocean, ground, and amphibious assaults. We stand against the violence RIMPAC will bring to the islands as well as the imperial violence it has and will continue to promote and naturalize around the world.
"We who love and value life oppose these exercises without equivocation and for the sake of every oppressed community in every corner of the earth. We stand committed to a free and liberated Oceania and the will remain steadfast in our commitment until these exercises cease to exist."

Color photograph of scientists gathered Ed Brown (identified by white arrow, standing behind former USGS HVO Scientist-in-Charge Tina Neal) pictured with his HVO colleagues during the 2018 Kīlauea lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse when HVO staff were temporarily based at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Geology Department following the evacuation of the HVO building in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Ed passed away unexpectedly due to natural causes in May 2024. USGS photo

THE LATE HVO 'OHANA MEMBER ED BROWN IS REMEMBERED in this week's Volcano Watch, written by USGS scientists and affiliates:

Ed Brown,  Associate Director for Infrastructure and Facilities for the USGS Volcano Science Center, passed away unexpectedly in May due to natural causes while on a site visit to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. For more than 43 years, Ed was a valued and impactful member of the VSC/HVO team. His skills in geophysics, information technology, telecommunications, construction, management, and field work kept the USGS and its five volcano observatories at the forefront of volcano science and public service. 

Ed joined the USGS in the wake of the 1980 eruption of Mount Saint Helens. He spent long days in the field monitoring Cascade Range volcanoes, often in extreme conditions and in remote locations. His aptitude for information technology (IT) brought him out of the field and to the forefront of computer science as he pioneered the introduction of computing and networking resources into USGS volcano observatory operations. 

The late Ed Brown was a major contributor to the plan for the new U.S. Geological
Surveyʻs Hawaiian Volcano Observatory and Pacific Island Ecosystems Research
Center in Hilo. USGS photo

Ed was a natural and gifted problem solver, and he worked closely with observatory staff to understand their challenges and needs. He helped improve volcano monitoring and data transmission capabilities by introducing new computer hardware, software, methods, and services. From introducing state-of-the-art scientific instruments to preserving historic data by digitizing archived records, Ed always came up with resources and creative ways to get things done.
Not only did he help each observatory with specific needs, Ed helped bring all the USGS observatories together into an interconnected whole. This was critical to the development and implementation of the National Volcano Early Warning System (NVEWS). NVEWS is a national-scale plan to ensure that the most hazardous volcanoes are properly monitored so that scientists can improve the timeliness and accuracy of hazard forecasts and for citizens to take proper and timely action to reduce risk. 

Ed was based at the Cascades Volcano Observatory (CVO) in Vancouver, WA, but he spent a great deal of time in Hawaii at HVO. And he understood that two of the six active volcanoes in Hawaii—Kīlauea and Mauna Loa—are among the highest threat volcanoes in the U.S. He worked hard to help the people of Hawaii by increasing the USGS's ability to provide useful, reliable hazard information. 
He experienced the power of Kīlauea eruptions firsthand during the 2018 lower East Rift Zone eruption and summit collapse. During the 2018 crisis, Ed ensured that critical monitoring data were delivered to scientists and emergency managers one minute, solved complex and time sensitive computer issues the next minute, and packed boxes in the damaged HVO building in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park the next minute. 
After helping rescue items from HVO's building at Uēkahuna, Ed immediately began locating and establishing temporary facilities for HVO. It was Ed who found the space in the Hilo Ironworks building where HVO is based now. And Ed was a major contributor to planning HVO's future facilities that are now under construction on the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo campus and in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park.  

The late Ed Brown, center, receiving an Information, Management and Technology award from the Office of the Associate Chief Information Officer for his leadership and commitment to the USGS. The award was presented by Alan Wiser (left) and Tim Quinn (right) at the Information Technology Exchange Meeting in April 2024. USGS PHOTO

A t

When it came to designing HVO's future facilities, Ed had plenty of experience to draw on. He helped design and build the current CVO building. He helped oversee the relocation of California Volcano Observatory and he managed Alaska Volcano Observatory facility upgrades as well. 
Ed cheerfully did the things big and small that few others were keen to do or had the skills to do. Yet he avoided the spotlight. He enjoyed working behind the scenes. A humorous example of this occurred when the USGS presented Ed with a lifetime achievement award onstage at a major conference. Everyone was cheering and smiling at this recognition, except Ed himself! He preferred helping others instead of celebrating his own many accomplishments. 
Over the years, Ed faced his many challenges with good humor and perseverance, and he always rose to the occasion. His accomplishments had, and will continue to have, a profound impact on our ability to execute USGS goals and mission on behalf of the American people. His sudden passing is a tremendous loss, but he leaves a profound legacy. He made the USGS, VSC, HVO—and the world—a better place. Mahalo nui loa, Ed Brown. 

USGS Volcano Activity Updates
Kīlauea is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert level is ADVISORY.
Following the June 3 eruption, magma has been repressurizing the storage system beneath Halemaʻumaʻu and the south caldera region, activating earthquakes in the upper East Rift Zone and in the caldera south of Halemaʻumaʻu. About 545 events occurred in this region over the past week, which is about double the number that occurred during the previous week. Inflationary ground deformation has also continued in the summit region. The most recent summit sulfur dioxide emission rate measured was approximately 50 t/d on June 10, 2024. Currently, there are no signs of an imminent eruption, but changes can occur quickly, as can the potential for eruption.
Mauna Loa is not erupting. Its USGS Volcano Alert Level is at NORMAL.
Three earthquakes were reported felt in the Hawaiian Islands during the past week: a M3.1 earthquake 20 km (12 mi) ESE of Nāʻālehu at 37 km (22 mi) depth on June 26 at 5:48 a.m. HST, a M2.6 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on June 24 at 7:36 p.m. HST, and a M3.0 earthquake 6 km (3 mi) S of Volcano at 1 km (0 mi) depth on June 23 at 3:23 p.m. HST.
HVO continues to closely monitor Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.
Please visit HVO's website for past Volcano Watch articles, Kīlauea and Mauna Loa updates, volcano photos, maps, recent earthquake information, and more. Email questions to askHVO@usgs.gov.

HAWAI'I RESIDENTS ARE LISTED AS THIRD IN THE COUNTRY for managing debt responsibly, according to a WalletHub study released on Thursday. It says, "Credit diligence is an ongoing process that involves managing your debt responsibly and monitoring your credit report for inaccuracies. To find out where people take credit most seriously and protect themselves from credit-score damage, the personal-finance website WalletHub today released its report on the States With the Most Credit-Diligent Residents."See the full report at https://wallethub.com/.../states-where-people-are.../128295

To read comments, add y o ur own, and l ike thi s story, see facebook.com/kaucalendar. See upcoming events, print edition and archive at kaunews.com. Support this news service with advertising at kaunews.com. 7,500 copies in the mail and on stands.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs June 26, 2024

The word Aloha is created by sailors assigned to Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) as they arrive to Hawai'i, standing on the flight deck for Exercise Rim of the Pacific which begins Thursday. Photo from U.S. Navy

RIMPAC, THE WAR GAMES, ARE DRAWING 25,000 MILITARY PARTICIPANTS FROM 29 COUNTRIES TO HAWAIIAN WATERS and land, starting Thursday. They will carry out their war games at such places as nearshore waters and Pohakuloa Military Training Area on this island. They will transport their vehicles and weaponry on some state, federal and Hawai'i County roads.

Getting ready for RIMPAC at Pearl Harbor
U.S. Navy Photo

The facebook for Commander, U.S. Third Fleet posts: "The 29th biennial Exercise Rim of the Pacific kicks off June 27th in and around the Hawaiian Islands. RIMPAC, the world's premier multinational maritime exercise, is a unique training opportunity designed to foster and sustain the cooperative relationships that are critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world's oceans."

A RIMPAC 2024 Teaser Trailer film shows ships, planes, helicopters, firing of missiles and more.
Several groups that oppose RIMPAC have called for it to stop. The national democracy group for the Philippines, Anakabyan Hawai'i, is one of them. One of its leaders, Misty Pegram, said, "The coalition that is currently being built is kind of a continuation of the decades of work that has already been done by Kānaka Maoli activists, folks who stand in solidarity against the military occupation in Hawaiʻi."
Pegram said, "The goal in this campaign to cancel RIMPAC. We see it as a manifestation of the U.S. militaries who want to know this idea of constantly being ready for war, and where their idea of a free and open Indo-Pacific is not aligned with what a free and open Indo-Pacific actually is."

USS Lincoln is one of the warships participating in RIMPAC starting Thursday. through Aug. 1. U.S. Navy photo.

U.S. Pacific Fleet made the RIMPAC announcement, saying, "Approximately 29 nations, 40 surface

ships, 3 submarines, 14 national land forces, over 150 aircraft and more than 25,000 personnel
will participate in the biennial Rim of the Pacific exercise series that began in 1971. As the world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC combines force capabilities in a dynamic maritime environment to demonstrate enduring interoperability across the full spectrum of military operations."
The theme of RIMPAC 2024 is “Partners: Integrated and Prepared.” To promote a free and open Indo-Pacific, Exercise RIMPAC "is the premier joint and combined maritime exercise, utilizing and preserving a world class maritime training environment. With inclusivity at its core, RIMPAC fosters multi-national cooperation and trust, leverages interoperability, and achieves respective national objectives to strengthen integrated, prepared, coalition partners."

RIMPAC 2024 welcomes forces from Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada, Chile, Colombia, Denmark, Ecuador, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Israel, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Peru, the Republic of Korea, the Republic of the Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Tonga, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Hosted by Commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet, RIMPAC 2024 will be led by Commander, U.S. 3rd Fleet, who will serve as the Combined Task Force (CTF) commander. For the first time in RIMPAC history, a member of the Chilean Navy, Commodore Alberto Guerrero, will serve as deputy commander of the CTF. Rear Adm. Kazushi Yokota of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force will serve as vice commander. Other key leaders of the multinational force will include Commodore Kristjan Monaghan of Canada, who will command the maritime component, and Air Commodore Louise Desjardins of Australia, who will command the air component.

The statement says that during RIMPAC, "integrated and prepared partners train and operate together in order to strengthen our collective forces and promote a free and open Indo-Pacific. RIMPAC 2024 contributes to the increased interoperability, resiliency and agility needed by the Joint and Combined Force to deter and defeat aggression by major powers across all domains and levels of conflict."

PHOTOGRAPHS OF KAʻŪ'S OCEAN SEASCAPES, ABOVE AND UNDERWATER, can be submitted to the 2024 Get Into Your Sanctuary Photo Contest. Submissions are accepted until Sept. 2 and can be taken in Kaʻū and beyond. Qualifying photographs could include images of stewardship activities in Kaʻū and elsewhere.
Other categories largely focus on Marine Sanctuaries nationwide, including the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. Here are the categories:
Sanctuary Views: Share photos of beautiful sunsets or scenic shots of a favorite national marine sanctuary.
Sanctuary Life: Send best photos of sanctuary inhabitants like fish, birds, marine mammals, and other amazing ocean creatures.

Sanctuary Recreation: Enter best images of people responsibly enjoying national marine sanctuaries, whether they're boating, kayaking, diving, swimming, conducting research, or just hanging out on the beach.
Sanctuaries at Home: Illustrate connecting National Marine Sanctuary System from home. Submissions to this category must follow the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, but can also include photos of stewardship activities from home or neighborhood, or sanctuary-related artwork.
Sanctuaries Around the World: Ocean connection can happen anywhere, not just in the National Marine Sanctuary System. Following the guidance of Sanctuary Recreation, Sanctuary Life, and Sanctuary Views, show connections to the ocean by submitting photos from anywhere in the world, to the category Sanctuaries Around the World. Submissions can include photos taken in the United States, but outside of a national marine sanctuary, as well as photos taken outside of the United States.
Organizers of the contest said, "We recommend that these images consist of photos taken in the wild of marine life or bodies of water close to you. Submissions of photos from zoos, aquariums, or other indoor establishments are not encouraged."
Winning photographs will be announced in October 2024.
Each photographer may submit up to 10 photos total (minimum of 1200 pixels on long edge). To clarify, this means 10 photos per person, not 10 photos per category. Photographers may submit photos to all categories, as long as their submissions do not exceed 10 photos total. Additional photos will be disqualified if photographer submits more than 10 images.
Fill out the entry forms at https://sanctuaries.noaa.gov/photo-contest.html...

Two of the candidates shown here at the Grand Rally in 2016 are still in office, Senators Brian Schatz and Mazie Hirono.

Photo by Julia Neal

A CLASSIC GRAND RALLY IN THE OLD HILO BANDSTAND ahead of this year's primary election has been set for Friday, July 19 in Hilo. Candidates aiming to represent Kaʻū and beyond, who are members of the Democratic Party, are expected to give speeches in the Mo'oheau Bandstand at 329 Kamehameha Ave. in downtown Hilo. It's the 63rd Annual Primary Grand Rally to get out the vote.

A statement from the Hawai'i Democratic Party says, "Longtime popular Master of Ceremonies Andy Kahili will kick off the event and County Party Chair Pono Kekela will introduce Hui Okinawa Kobudo Taiko for a traditional taiko drum performance. There is no charge to attend, and everyone is welcome.

"Started in 1954, the Hawai'i County Democratic Party's Grand Rally has seldom missed a beat through the decades. It went virtual in 2020 because of the pandemic but returned in person in 2022 and continues to be the Big Island's signature political event, recognized statewide. The Democratic Party of Hawai'i is especially excited to welcome all the young voters casting their ballots for the first time this year."
The Grand Rally, historically held the Friday night before the primary election, now takes place a few weeks earlier so voters can hear from candidates just as their ballots are arriving in the mail. It's also a great opportunity for candidates and voters to get better acquainted. Ballots should arrive in mailboxes in the days after July 23rd, to be returned and counted by August 10th.
Those wishing to vote can still sign up for the Primary and the General Elections. See https://elections.hawaii.gov/register-to-vote/.

'OIWI, AN EVENT PRODUCED BY WAI'OHINU'S OWN PUMEHANA WONG YUEN, is open for Ka’ū crafters to join in to sell their creations on Saturday, July 6 at the Pana'ewa Haili Tent from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Wong Yuen said she invites the Ka’ū public to attend the 'Oiwi Pana'aewa event, which is designed to "showcase the handmade crafters." While completely organized and produced by Wong Yuen, it is sponsored by Big Island Delights and KWXX radio. It features the Uncle Boddy Durham Country Band and help is provided by Men of Pa'a.
Wong Yuen created 'Oiwi, which she says is a nonprofit that promotes locally made crafts. She is also owner of Pumehana Designs, which is popular at many venues. She specializes in lei makig and floral arrangements, and crafting Hawaiian jewelry, Kamani hair piks, magnets and mini throw nets.
See https://www.facebook.com/groups/1029007884708499/
Born and raised in Wai'ohinu, Wong Yuen is the daughter of the late Walter Wong Yuen, Sr. who was known for his volunteer service for many years at Kauaha'ao Congregational Church. Pumehana is daughter of the late Annie Wong Yuen, who was a pastor at the church.
To become a vendor at 'Oiwi, contact pumehanamomi@aol.com Text 808-990-7281.

Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs June 25, 2024

Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park staff raises the flag at Kīlauea Visitor Center which is expected to close for up to two years
for renovations, as early as September. NPS Photo

KĪLAUEA VISITOR CENTER COULD CLOSE AND AFTER DARK IN THE PARK SUSPENDED AS EARLY AS SEPTEMBER. The purpose is renovations and expansion at Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. Parking adjacent to the Visitor Center will be limited during construction.
According the the Park, the project contract is expected to go out for bid in July, and if awarded next month, construction could begin in September. Once awarded, the contract is expected to take up to two years to complete.
What this means for visitors is the complete closure of Kīlauea Visitor Center, including the restrooms, water station, and sidewalks around the building. Visitors should expect limited parking at KVC, along Crater Rim Drive West and reduced services. Once KVC closes, programs such as After Dark in the Park and Nā Leo Manu will be suspended until KVC reopens.
Limited visitor services and the Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store will relocate to a temporary visitor contact station adjacent to the historic ball field near Kīlauea Military Camp.
Volcano House and the Volcano Art Center Gallery will remain open during the project.
Park managers will share details of the renovation and expansion at an After Dark in the Park program August 20 at 7 p.m. in the Kīlauea Visitor Center auditorium.

Kīlauea Visitor Center East sign. The facility will close for up to two
years for renovations. NPS photo by Jessica Ferracane

Renovations planned for Kīlauea Visitor Center include:
The addition of a covered hālau (pavilion) on the western end of the building;
Restrooms relocated to the eastern end of the building;
Full accessibility;
Interior will be expanded by converting office space into visitor-use space;
Hawaiʻi Pacific Parks Association store will shift into a larger interior space, and
New bilingual exhibits in English and ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi.
Although September is the soonest the visitor center would close, a delayed start date is possible, according to the Park. Hawai'i Volcanoes staff says the Park will continue to notify the public through news releases, social media and its website. Construction closures and delays are regularly updated on the park’s construction webpage: https://ow.ly/nw5o50SpJ9H.

Janeea Bonoan

O KAʻŪ KĀKOU HAS ANNOUNCED SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS FOR 2024. The non-profit community service group gives scholarships annually and this year selected the following:

Janeea Bonoan graduated from Ka’ū High School in May and gave the commencement speech. She is enrolled in University of Hawai’i Hilo this fall to pursue a medical career as a pediatrician or nurse. The OKK announcement says, "Janeea is passionate about children’s health and dreams of returning to Ka’ū frequently to hold free health check up clinics for kids. She feels that participating in volunteer community services made her realize how important it is to connect and reconnect with people in the

Leinaia Andrade

community. She says 'It doesn’t matter if it’s big or small, as long as you find a ways to give back to your community.'”
Lenaia Andrade graduated from Kamehameha Schools and is entering her third year at Columbia Basin College in Pasco, WA. She is pursuing her education to become a dental hygienist. She told OKK that she plans to return to Ka’u “to be able to give people amazing care and experiences just as my dentist and orthodontist did for me”. Andrade has participated in many volunteer activities and reprted to OKK that her “volunteer experiences helped drive my passion for helping and aiding others in the community.” OKK reports that she "wants to be able to give back to her community because they have instilled so

Nalani Blanco-Louis

many important values in her that created the strong and industrious individual she is today."
Nalani Blanco-Louis graduated from Ka’ū High School in May. OKK reports that "She has a passion for animals because she grew up in Ka’ū participating in ranching, hunting and fishing. She will be attending Hawai’i Community College in Hilo this fall and has plans to pursue a degree in Veterinary Medicine. Her career intentions are to open a veterinary clinic to service Ka’ū District ranchers and clients. She has been a volunteer to help restore Honu'apo Beach and states 'It felt good because I was not doing it just for anyone, I did it for the ‘aina,' She feels that her “community has given me so much that I need to give back something.'”
See more on OKK, its President Wayne Kawahi and boardmembers at https://www.facebook.com/okaukakou/ and www.okaukakou.org. In addition to the organization's continuous volunteer work from Food Bank to helping with Ka’ū Coffee Festival, upcoming events include the Independence Day Parade on June 29 in Nāʻālehu and the Ka’ū Coffee Trail Run on Sept. 24.

Monday, June 24, 2024

Kaʻū News Briefs June 24, 2024

Ashley Oyama is a Republican challenging Democratic candidate and incumbent Jeanne Kapela in the race for the seat in the state House of Representatives, serving Kaʻū and beyond.

ASHLEY OYAMA IS RUNNING AS A REPUBLICAN AGAINST DEMOCRAT JEANNE KAPELA, the incumbent in the race for the state House of Representatives District 5. The territory covers all of Ka'u and extends toward Kona to a portion of Kea'au and toward Kona to north of Ho'okena. Oyama is expected to appear in the Fourth of July Parade in Na'alehu this Saturday, July 29 at 11 a.m. Oyama's campaign website www.ahleyoyama.com says she is "a devoted wife, proud mother, teacher, and small business owner of Kūpa‘a Homeschool Academy. During the Covid pandemic, Oyama was named Teacher of the Year for West Hawai'i while she was teaching at Konawaena High School.

Ashley Oyama, candidate for state House of Representatives was named West
Hawai'i Teacher of the year when serving at Konawaena High School

Oyama is quoted as saying, "Our community thrives on values like respect and aloha. Driven by a profound sense of duty, I step forward as a candidate for State House District 5. I'm not seeking merely a title but rather an opportunity to revive the essence of our community. As your voice, I pledge to uphold the values that have defined us, fostering a return to the unity and compassion we once shared.
"Iʻve lived in District 5 since I was four years old and am blessed to raise my family here. As the 2021 West Hawaii Teacher of the Year, Iʻve seen the need for change within the public school system. I will work for accountability, transparency, and fairness for students and families within the school system. I stand for parental rights and believe that students and families deserve to be a part of educational decisions that impact them.
"I envision communities where families are respected and supported when it comes to their decisions on education and parental rights, food sustainability, and community and land preservation. I believe that proper maintenance of public roadways and community infrastructures have been overlooked and needs immediate attention. We need to take care of the families who are fighting to keep Hawaiʻi as their home. We need to invest in our people now so that there is a future to look forward to."

Those wishing to vote can still sign up for the Primary and the General Elections. See https://elections.hawaii.gov/register-to-vote/.

TWO NEW JOB POSTINGS AT HAWAI'I VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK:

The Museum Technician for Historic Image Collection Digitization will assist the Park in preserving history by digitizing the park collection. This job will close when Hawai'i Volcanoes receive 50 applications which may be sooner than the closing date. Visit USAJobs to apply and learn more https://www.usajobs.gov/job/796887300
The Conservation Legacy Intern will help document the cultural landscape of the Kahuku ahupuaʻa (land-division). "It's a unique chance to contribute to our understanding and preservation efforts," says the Park message. Visit Conservation Legacy to apply and learn more: https://jobs.silkroad.com/ConservationL.../Careers/jobs/5311
For more information on how to get involved with the national park, visit the Park website.