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| Dried vegetation flanks Kīpukapuaulu Trail in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park,. The trail is open but vehicles are prohibited on Hilina Pali Road and Mauna Loa Road and open fires are prohibited at campgrounds and picnic areas in Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park until further notice. NPS Photo by Janice Wei |
ELEVATED FIRE RISK LED TO THE CLOSING OF MAUNA LOA ROAD AND HILINA PALI ROAD to motorized vehicles Tuesday until further notice. Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park stated that the closure if from the gate past Kīpukapuaulu to Mauna Loa Lookout.
Pedestrians and bicyclists may continue to use both roads, and backcountry permit holders will be provided access to trailheads.
Open fires are also prohibited until further notice at Nāmakanipaio campground, Kīpukapuaulu picnic area, and Kilauea Military Camp. Propane or gas cooking stoves are allowed.
"Low rainfall, reduced humidity, and gusty winds have created dry conditions throughout the park. Every visitor has a role to help prevent wildfires in national parks. Follow all fire restrictions and do not park on dry grasses. The hot underside of a vehicle can ignite dry grass," says the Park statement. "Most wildfires in Hawaiʻi are unintentionally human caused. Many of these wildfires occur in proximity to roadways, communities and recreational areas, and pose considerable threats to public safety."
Pedestrians and bicyclists may continue to use both roads, and backcountry permit holders will be provided access to trailheads.
Open fires are also prohibited until further notice at Nāmakanipaio campground, Kīpukapuaulu picnic area, and Kilauea Military Camp. Propane or gas cooking stoves are allowed.
"Low rainfall, reduced humidity, and gusty winds have created dry conditions throughout the park. Every visitor has a role to help prevent wildfires in national parks. Follow all fire restrictions and do not park on dry grasses. The hot underside of a vehicle can ignite dry grass," says the Park statement. "Most wildfires in Hawaiʻi are unintentionally human caused. Many of these wildfires occur in proximity to roadways, communities and recreational areas, and pose considerable threats to public safety."
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| High rez cameras on poles and AI will be employed by AlertWest and Hawaiian Electric in the coming year to detect smoke and the outbreak of fires on all the inhabited Hawaiian Islands. Photo from AlertWest |
The public will also have access to the live feeds from any of the cameras.
Hawaiian Electric recently installed the first camera station in Lahaina and has plans to deploy 78 stations in elevated fire risk areas on the five islands served by the company, with
each location having two cameras to provide a full 360-degree view. The camera feeds will be
monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
A company statement says: "The $14 million project is the latest step in
Hawaiian Electric’s ongoing effort to reduce the risk of wildfires associated with company
equipment."
Hawaiian Electric signed a five-year contract with California-based ALERTWest. ALERTWest
will install and maintain the camera stations as well as provide around-the-clock monitoring for
potential ignitions by experienced wildfire safety professionals. Approximately 50 percent of the project
costs will
be covered by federal funds allocated under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act estimated at $90 million in grant funding covering various costs related to Hawaiian Electric’s resiliency and wildfire mitigation work.
be covered by federal funds allocated under the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act estimated at $90 million in grant funding covering various costs related to Hawaiian Electric’s resiliency and wildfire mitigation work.
According to Hawaiian Electric, "ALERTWest has extensive experience working with utility companies, including partnerships,
with Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), Southern California Edison (SCE), and San Diego Gas &
Electric (SDG&E), as well as the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL
FIRE). The AI Solution was recognized as one of TIME magazine’s best inventions of 2023. The software platform’s pan, tilt, zoom cameras constantly scan their surroundings, completing
one 360-degree 
sweep every two minutes. Utilizing AI, the system detects changes from
previous images and highlights them with a red rectangular box on the screen.
"This, coupled
with 24/7 human verification, helps eliminate false alerts caused by mist or dust. If a suspected
ignition is detected, the ALERTWest Operations Center staff reviews the camera imagery to
ensure there is sufficient visual evidence before notifying Hawaiian Electric and emergency
response agencies, says the statement from Hawaiian Electric.
The public will be able to access the live feeds from any of the cameras on the ALERTWest
website at www.alertwest.org. Half of the video camera stations are expected to be operational
by September 2024, with the remainder to be installed in the first half of 2025.
Hawaiian Electric initiated a Public Safety Power Shutoff program on July 1. It notifies communities when it will shut off the electricity in cases where fire threat is high or fires are spreading within or nearby service areas. "This program is our last line of defense to keep communities safe from the threat of wildfires," said a statement from the utility. See https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/safety-and-outages/wildfire-safety/public-safety-power-shutoff.
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THE WEHILEI BACK TO SCHOOL CONCERT has been changed to 11 a.m. on Sunday, July 28. The free concert is sponsored by Debbie Ryder and 'Uhane Pohaku Na MOku o Hawai'i and will also feature keiki of Halua Hula O Leionalani. It is designed for Kaʻū youth and will be held at Ke Ola Pu'uhonua in Nāʻālehu, adjacent to Punalu'u Bake Shop.
Keiki will receive colorful school backpacks autographed by Wehilei. Free hotdogs and water will be available to keiki.
Wehilei is composer of hit songs and recipient in 2023 of Na Hoku Hanohano awards for Single of the Year and Most Promising Artist of the Year. Her music includes the song and album Music Heals the Soul, and songs Movin On and In the Mood.
Wehilei is granddaughter of Debbie Ryder and daughter of Lorna Lim, who is known for her renditions of Pua Olena and Ku'uipo, of the Lim Family of musicians. Wehilei is also daughter of Wailau Ryder, the Hawaiian Slack-key artist and music producer. She has traveled to perform throughout Hawai'i, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, as well as the mainland.
Wehilei is composer of hit songs and recipient in 2023 of Na Hoku Hanohano awards for Single of the Year and Most Promising Artist of the Year. Her music includes the song and album Music Heals the Soul, and songs Movin On and In the Mood.
Wehilei is granddaughter of Debbie Ryder and daughter of Lorna Lim, who is known for her renditions of Pua Olena and Ku'uipo, of the Lim Family of musicians. Wehilei is also daughter of Wailau Ryder, the Hawaiian Slack-key artist and music producer. She has traveled to perform throughout Hawai'i, Asia, New Zealand and Australia, as well as the mainland.
To read comments, add your own, and like this 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.olcanoes
To read comments, add your own, and like this 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.olcanoes
